While Pope Francis' strongest homily to date delivered on Monday appears to be in response to fresh reports of corruption within the Roman Catholic Church, it could as well apply to Filipino politicians.

The pontiff recommended the very drastic measure of tying a rope around the neck of corrupt officials and the other end to a rock and throwing them into the sea to drown and perish forever.

He was actually quoting the Gospel of St Luke, the third Gospel, which states, "Jesus says: It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea."

The homily came after he issued similar strong words on Friday on parents who feed their children on unclean bread earned from bribes and corruption.

YouTube/vatican

At this point in the Philippine life when many are suffering, not only because of the damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), but more so because of corruption in the government, many Filipinos would certainly agree with the pope's suggestion and probably volunteer to push off some legislators into the polluted Manila Bay to banish them.

Although all national efforts now are on saving the victims of the Category 5 Hurricane-equivalent from Tacloban and other parts of central Philippines, the country has not forgotten recent Senate hearings when suspected pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles continued to feign innocence of charges that she pocketed P10 billion from public coffers in connivance with some senators and congressmen.

YouTube/INQUIRERE.net

Likewise, those legislators accused of allowing their PDAF to be channeled to fake NGOs created by Ms Lim-Napoles have maintained their innocence of the charges and are asking the public not to pre-judge them.

Days before Pope Francis delivered his strongest homily since he took over the papacy in March 2013, another scandal broke in an old religious order linked to the Vatican.

To address the corrupt system in the Vatican financial system, the pope had appointed an eight-man body to oversee changes, including in the Vatican bank.

Once more quoting Biblical passages, the pope described these corrupt people as "whitewashed tombs" who appear to be "beautiful from the outside, but inside they are full of dead bones and putrefaction."

Thus, even with the large amount of money now pouring as donations from nations and foreign institutions for victims of Yolanda's wrath, many Filipinos are wary that some corrupt public officials would find a way to dip their greedy fingers into money and goods intended for victims of calamities.

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