Jaime Sin

Jaime Lachica Sin PLH, OS, OL (Chinese: 辛海梅, 辛海棉; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Sin Hái-mûi, Sin Hái-mî; August 31, 1928 – June 21, 2005) was the 30th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila, and was also a cardinal.

His Eminence Jaime Lachica Sin DD, CCLH, GCS, GCrL, gcYC
Cardinal, Archbishop of Manila
Province	Manila (Emeritus)
See	Archdiocese of Manila (Emeritus)
Installed	March 19, 1974
Term ended	September 15, 2003
Predecessor	Rufino Jiao Santos
Successor	Gaudencio Rosales
Other posts	Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria ai Monti
Orders
Ordination	April 3, 1954 by Antonio Frondosa
Consecration	March 18, 1967 by Antonio Frondosa
Created cardinal	May 24, 1976 by Pope Paul VI
Rank	Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Birth name	Jaime Lachica Sin
Born	August 31, 1928 New Washington, Aklan, Philippine Islands
Died	June 21, 2005 (aged 76) San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Buried	Crypt, Manila Cathedral
Nationality	Filipino
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Juan Sin (father) Máxima Lachica (mother)
Previous post	Archbishop of Jaro and Titular Bishop of Massa Lubrense (1972–1974) Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro and Titular Bishop of Obba (1967–1972)
Alma mater	St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary
Motto	Serviam "I will serve"
Coat of arms

Styles of Jaime Lachica Sin
Reference style	His Eminence
Spoken style	Your Eminence
Informal style	Cardinal
See	Manila

Ordination history of Jaime Sin
History Priestly ordination Ordained by Antonio Frondosa (Capiz) Date April 3, 1954 Place Jaro, Iloilo City Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Antonio Frondosa (Capiz) Co-consecrators Juan Nicolasora Nilmar (Davao coadj.) Manuel S. Salvador (Cebu aux.) Date March 18, 1967 Cardinalate Date May 24, 1976
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Jaime Sin as principal consecrator Most Rev. Antonio Buenafe March 30, 1976 Most Rev. Federico O. Escaler July 31, 1976 Most Rev. Generoso C. Camiña May 24, 1978 Most Rev. Manuel C. Sobreviñas May 25, 1979 Most Rev. Lucilo B. Quiambao April 27, 1982 Most Rev. Warlito Cajandig y Itcuas June 21, 1989 Most Rev. Crisostomo A. Yalung May 31, 1994 Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona December 29, 1994 Most Rev. Pedro D. Arigo May 18, 1996 Most Rev. José Paala Salazar June 7, 1996 Most Rev. Jesse E. Mercado March 31, 1997 Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco June 18, 1998 Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas August 31, 2001 Most Rev. Nereo P. Odchimar November 27, 2001 Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle December 12, 2001 Most Rev. José Corazón Tumbagahan Tala-oc July 30, 2003

Of Chinese Filipino descent, Sin was known for his instrumental role in the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as his successor. He was again considered a charismatic leader of the Filipino people in the 2001 EDSA Revolution that replaced President Joseph Estrada with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Sin died at the age of 76, due to renal complications resulting from diabetes.

Early life

Sin was born in New Washington, Aklan, Philippines to Juan Sin, a Hokkien Filipino from Xiamen and his wife, Máxima Lachica, an ethnic Aklanon.

"Jim", as he was known, was his mother's favorite. The 14th of 16 children, he was a painfully thin, asthmatic child, who often used to cuddle up between his parents to sleep at night. When he asked his nurse why his mother lavished such attention on him, he was told it was because he was the weakest and ugliest of the brood.[1] He left his childhood home and his family to study in St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary,[2] and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Jaro on April 3, 1954.[3] He was the first rector of St. Pius X Seminary in Lawaan Hills, Roxas City, Capiz, serving from 1957 to 1967. On February 29, 1960, he was named Domestic Prelate (present-day, honorary prelate with the title of Monsignor). He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Jaro on February 10, 1967,[3] and was consecrated bishop of the titular see of Obba on March 18 of that year. On March 15, 1972, Sin was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Jaro, taking on administrative roles in the archdiocese, while holding the titular see of Massa Lubrense.[3] On October 8, 1972, Sin was appointed Archbishop of Jaro.

Archbishop of Manila

Sin was appointed archbishop of Manila on January 21, 1974. Initially, he was reluctant to take on the role of leader of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.[4] He was officially installed as Archbishop of Manila at Manila Cathedral on March 19, 1974, making him only the third native Filipino in the office after centuries of Spanish, American, and Irish archbishops.

On May 24, 1976, Pope Paul VI made him a member of the College of Cardinals, creating him Cardinal Priest of the titular church of Santa Maria ai Monti. He participated as a cardinal-elector in both the August and October papal conclaves which elected Popes John Paul I and John Paul II respectively. In the August conclave, he reportedly told Albino Luciani, "You will be the new pope."[5] After Luciani was elected as John Paul I, Cardinal Sin paid him homage, and the new pope said: "You were a prophet, but my reign will be a short one."[5] He remained the youngest member of the College until 1983.

His title and surname as Cardinal Sin (another term for a deadly sin) were a point of humour in the Philippines and for Filipino Catholics. Examples included "The greatest sin of all: Cardinal Sin," and even his own pun of "Welcome to the house of Sin" that he used to greet guests at Villa San Miguel, the archiepiscopal palace in Mandaluyong.[2]

People Power movement

Events in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos forced Sin, the spiritual leader of Filipino Catholics, to become involved in politics. He became witness to corruption, fraud, and even murder by the regime and rising popular discontent with the dictatorial rule of Marcos and his wife, Imelda.[4] Within six months of his appointment as Archbishop, Sin was criticizing authorities after the military raided a Manila seminary on the grounds that it was harbouring insurgents.[2] Sin appealed to Filipinos of all religions to follow the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels and use peaceful means to change the political situation in the Philippines.

Beginning in the 1970s, Cardinal Sin, a moderate, was among the leaders who publicly pressured President Marcos to end martial law, out of concern that leftist radicals would overthrow the government.[6] Sin eventually decided to speak out in support of Corazon Aquino, the widow of the assassinated opposition leader Benigno Aquino, Jr., in calling for an end to martial law. This led to massive popular demonstrations, often led by nuns whom riot police dared not attack.[4] In February 1986, Sin called on Filipinos to surround the police and military headquarters in Manila to protect then-military Vice Chief of Staff Fidel Ramos, who had broken with Mr. Marcos.[6] More than 1 million people took to the streets praying the rosary and singing hymns in an outpouring that shielded anti-government rebels from attack. Some soldiers decided to join the marchers.

In what later became known as the People Power Revolution, Marcos, his family, and close advisors were forced to flee the Philippines[4] and took up residence in Honolulu, Hawaii, upon the invitation of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Cardinal Sin, along with presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, became known to Filipinos as the architects of the People Power Movement.

Sin decided to intervene again, in 2001, to become spiritual leader of another People Power Movement. Some Filipinos alleged that president Joseph Estrada was guilty of widespread corruption and graft because of the controversial "second envelope". Poor people marching in the streets, with the support of Sin, the elite, and military generals, succeeded in toppling Estrada from power and elevating Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as acting president in what was perceived by the international community as a triumphant democracy. The "second envelope" was opened after the coup and turned out to be Estrada's bank account. Commenting on the endemic corruption that persisted after Marcos, Sin said, "We got rid of Ali Baba, but the 40 thieves remained."[7] It was reported that the cardinal's actions caused uneasiness at the Vatican and that he was summoned to Rome to explain himself.[8]

Hours before hundreds of soldiers and officers staged a failed revolt against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in July 2003, he urged Filipinos to be vigilant against groups plotting to violently overturn the country's democratic institutions.[7]

Two and a half years after Sin's death, it was reported that at the height of EDSA II, Sin received a directive from the Vatican ordering him and the Philippine clergy to adopt a non-partisan stance towards the political crisis.[9] Sin, who by then had committed support for the EDSA II revolt, was said to have threatened to resign as archbishop if compelled to withdraw his support.[9] The standoff was reportedly resolved with the mediation of the then Supreme Court Associate Justice Artemio Panganiban (later, Chief Justice of the Philippines), a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, a department of the Roman Curia.[9] As a result, the Vatican did not insist upon its earlier demand. The reports were attributed to persons reputed to have first-hand knowledge of the events,[9] but there has been no official confirmation of them from the Vatican or from the Archdiocese of Manila.

Views on condom use

As a predominantly Catholic country, issues in the Philippines have and are influenced by the Church in varying degrees. Condom usage has historically been a controversial topic.[10] As the incumbent Archbishop of Manila in 1996, when the government distributed condoms to curb HIV infection rates, Sin called the programme "intrinsically evil",[11] in line with Church teaching on the matter. Sin also denounced then-Health Secretary, Juan Flavier, with some asserting that the latter's condom-promotion had made him an unwitting agent of Satan.[12] Prominent Catholics also protested against the government's condom-distribution programme by publicly burning boxes of condoms.[11]

Retirement and death

Cardinal Sin retired as the Archbishop of Manila on September 15, 2003, and was succeeded by Lipa Archbishop Gaudencio Borbon Rosales. He was too ill to travel to the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. Afflicted for years with a kidney ailment brought on by diabetes, he was taken on June 19, 2005, to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, Metro Manila, because of a slight but lingering fever. He died of renal failure on June 21, 2005, at the age of 76, two months before his 77th birthday.[6] The government accorded him the honour of a state funeral and a period of national mourning through Presidential Proclamation № 863, s. 2005 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was buried beside his three immediate predecessors in the crypt of Manila Cathedral, after a funeral there attended by thousands of Filipinos.[13]

Auxiliary Bishops of Manila

Below are the names of bishops who assisted Sin during his tenure as Archbishop of Manila. Auxiliary bishops also serve as vicars-general.

• Most Rev. Hernando Antiporda (1974–1975) (murdered in Quiapo Church)
• Most Rev. Ramón Arguelles (1993–1995) (Archbishop Emeritus of Lipa)
• Most Rev. Teodoro Bacani (1984–2002) (Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches)
• Most Rev. Teodoro Buhain (1983–2003)
• Most Rev. Artemio Casas (1974–1975)
• Most Rev. Oscar Cruz (1976–1978) (Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan)
• Most Rev. Protacio Gungon (1977–1983) (Bishop Emeritus of Antipolo)
• Most Rev. Leoncio Lat (1986–1992)
• Most Rev. Leonardo Legaspi (1977–1983) (Archbishop Emeritus of Caceres)
• Most Rev. Bienvenido López (1974–1995)
• Most Rev. Jesse Mercado (1997–2002) (current Bishop of Parañaque)
• Most Rev. Amado Paulino (1974–1985)
• Most Rev. Gabriel Reyes (1981–1992) (Bishop Emeritus of Antipolo)
• Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (1974–1982) (Archbishop Emeritus of Manila)
• Most Rev. Manuel Sobreviñas (1979-1993); (Bishop Emeritus of Imus)
• Most Rev. Rolando Tría-Tirona (1994–1996) (current Archbishop of Caceres)
• Most Rev. Juan Velasco (1974-1984)
• Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas (2001–2003) (current Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan)
• Most Rev. Crisostomo Yalung (1994–2001) (Bishop Emeritus of Antipolo)

Vicars General of Manila

Aside from auxiliary bishops, the following are priests who served as Vicar-General during Sin's term:

• Rev. Msgr. Jose Abriol (1974–2003)
• Rev. Msgr. Benedicto Aquino
• Rev. Msgr. Benjamin Mariño
• Rev. Msgr. Josefino Ramirez (1985–2003)
• Rev. Msgr. Socrates Villegas (1993-2001, prior to being named as Auxiliary Bishop)

Honours and awards

National Honors

• : Philippine Legion of Honor, Chief Commander (CCLH)
• : Order of Sikatuna, Grand Collar (GCS)
• : Order of Lakandula, Grand Cross (GCrL)

Foreign Honor

• : Order of Isabella the Catholic, Knight Grand Cross (gcYC) - (June 24, 1977)[14]

Sin also received 26 honorary doctorates in various fields from higher education institutions in the Philippines and abroad (mostly from notable universities in the United States of America), among which are the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Yale University, Georgetown University, Brandeis University and Boston College.[15]

References

1. Adam Easton. "Obituary: Cardinal Jaime Sin | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
2. Easton, Adam. "Cardinal Jaime Sin: Outspoken prelate with a key role in the fall of President Marcos", The Guardian (obit), 21 June 2005
3. David M. Cheney. "Jaime Lachica Cardinal Sin [Catholic-Hierarchy]". Catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
4. Stowe, Judy. "Cardinal Jaime Sin: Archbishop of Manila who saw his duty as being 'to put Christ in politics'", (obit), The Independent, 22 June 2005
5. Knowles, Leo (2003). Modern Heroes of the Church - Leo Knowles. ISBN 9781931709460. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
6. O'Donnell, Michelle. "Cardinal Jaime Sin, a Champion of the Poor in the Philippines, Is Dead at 76" (obit), The New York Times, 21 June 2005
7. "Philippines' Cardinal Sin dies at 76 - World news - Asia-Pacific". NBC News. June 20, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
8. Weil, Martin. "Philippine Cardinal Jaime L. Sin Dies at 76", Washington Post, 21 June 2005
9. Labog-Javellana, Juliet (January 21, 2008). "Sin opposed Vatican order, pushed Edsa II". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 22, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
10. Engel, Jonathan (2006). The epidemic : a global history of AIDS. New York: Smithsonian Books/Collins. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-06-114488-2.
11. Shenon, Philip (January 21, 1996). "DEADLY TURNING POINT: A special report.;AIDS Epidemic, Late to Arrive, Now Explodes in Populous Asia – Page 7 – New York Times". The New York Times. New York City: NYTC. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
12. McIntosh, Alistair (January 4, 1995). "Philippines: Manila Health Minister an Unlikely Agent of Satan". Reuters NewMedia. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
13. "Thousands gather for Cardinal Sin's funeral, Philippine's 'champion of the poor' :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)". Catholic News Agency. June 28, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
14. GOVPH. "Filipino recipients of Spanish Decorations | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines". Gov.ph. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
15. "Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, D.D". Cbcponline.net. Retrieved September 24, 2016.

External links

• O'Donnell, Michelle (June 21, 2005). "Cardinal Jaime Sin, a Champion of the Poor in the Philippines, Is Dead at 76". New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
• "Philippine Cardinal Jaime L. Sin Dies at 76". Washington Post Retrieved 2011-09-18.
• Archdiocese of Manila Biostatistics
• Catholic Hierarchy – Jaime Lachica Cardinal Sin †