Bishop urges gov’t: Don’t disregard lives of Maute hostages
Posted by CBCP News | Sep 4, 2017 MANILA— A Catholic bishop appealed to the government to give greater weight the safety of hostages still held by the Maute group as security forces continue their final assault on the bandits. Bishop Edwin Dela Peña of Marawi said the government must carefully consider its military options in order to recover all hostages alive. The prelate said “collateral damage” in war is completely unacceptable in all circumstances. “If they do the final assault, the lives of the hostages could just be sacrificed and be considered as collateral damage… that is not…
Summary killings cannot be justified—Archbishop
Various lay groups stage “Walk for Life” along streets of Navotas City to condemn the extrajudicial killings of suspected drug pushers and users, July 2, 2017. ROY LAGARDE MANILA— Summary killings can never be justified as a drug control measure, a Catholic archbishop said. Jesuit Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan De Oro, in a pastoral letter, said the wave of extrajudicial killings that have claimed even young lives and many others without due process is a cause for alarm. “These summary killings and violations of human rights cannot be justified by invoking the greater common good – which our recent…
Bishop asks Duterte to ‘reconfigure’ drug war
A Catholic bishop is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte would “reconfigure” his war on the illegal drugs that has already claimed thousands of lives. Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan diocese said another key thing for Duterte is to learn by listening to drug experts. “Allow experts in various fields to take part in coming up with an in-depth study of the root causes of the illegal drug problem in the country,” he said. While authorities strengthen its intelligence work against drug lords and scalawags in the police, he said the government must also strongly support community-based drug rehabilitation programs….
Marawi bishop opposes martial law extension
MANILA— The Catholic prelate of war-torn Marawi is opposing the government’s plan to extend the martial law in Mindanao. Bishop Edwin de la Peña of Marawi favored the 60-day military rule in the region but said that extending it is no longer necessary. After all, he said, the government can already deal with the situation in Marawi even without martial law. “I am against martial law extension,” de la Peña said. “The first martial law declaration was fine but if they are going to use Marawi again to justify its extension, I don’t think it’s right.” As the military continue…
Newly elected heads of the CBCP Commissions, Committees and Offices
Catholic bishops gather for their 115th plenary assembly at Pope Pius XII Center in Manila, July 7, 2017. ROY LAGARDE The term of the newly-elected chairmen of the CBCP Episcopal Commissions, Committees and Offices will be from December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2019. Episcopal Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities Bp. Jose A. Cabantan Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate Bp. Sofronio…
Condemning killings is not enough— Cardinal Tagle
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle speaks during a press conference on the upcoming Philippine Conference on New Evangelization in Manila, July 4, 2017. ROY LAGARDE The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church said the flurry of attacks against the spate of drug-related killings has to stop and not just with mere words. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said that to save more lives and address social problems like drug addiction, condemnation alone is not enough. He said the Church must be more “proactive” in dealing with the problem by coming up with concrete actions to protect life. “As we say do not…
Bishop slams modern day ‘Judases’ behind summary killings
MANILA— As a wave of drug-related killings continues in the country, a Catholic bishop condemned those who sow violence the same way some once supported Judas against Jesus. In a strongly-worded homily during a Mass after a “Walk for Life” in Navotas City on Sunday, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said that behind the violence are “Judases” who are in cahoots with the killers. He said if some people consider the suspected drug personalities as “termites of society,” so are those behind the extrajudicial killings. “They are the new ‘Makapili’ during the Japanese’ time who would betray their fellowmen and…
Fight fake news, bishops urge Catholics
As fake news takes over social media feeds, the country’s Catholic bishops on Wednesday called on the faithful to fight spread of false information and online deception. For the first time, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a pastoral exhortation against fake news which is “a sin against charity” because it leads the people to wrong decisions. “Our Catholic faith obliges us to refrain from patronizing, popularizing and supporting identified sources of ‘alternative facts’ or ‘fake news’,” the bishops said. “Refuse to be themselves purveyors of fake news and to desist from disseminating this whether on social media…
Pray For Marawi
MANILA— The militants linked to the Islamic State has threatened to kill their hostages, including a Catholic priest, if the military offensive against them continues, a Catholic bishop said. Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said he received a call last night from one of the militants, who introduced himself as “a member of the ISIS”, and demanded for a “unilateral ceasefire”. “They want a ceasefire and for the military to give them access out of Marawi. Otherwise, they will kill the hostages,” Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said. The prelate said the call was made shortly before 8pm on…
RESPECT & CARE FOR LIFE MONTH 2016
February is Pro-Life month. This is a month dedicated to the preservation and respect for human life, and the sanctity of marriage and the Filipino family. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Engaging the Catholic Faithful in the Promotion of Life and the Defense of the Family. “ PRO-LIFE MONTH ACTIVITIES, 2016 FEBRUARY 7,2016 – PRO-LIFE SUNDAY OPENING OF PRO-LIFE MONTH VENUE: NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PARISH 1923 Orense St. Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City MASS CELEBRANT: REV. FR. RODERICK L. CASTRO TIME: 10:00 AM FEBRUARY 14, 2016 CANDY GIVING PROJECT with FILIPINOS FOR LIFE and with the groups/individuals who wish to…
