Catholics told to surrender ‘satanic’ rosaries

CEBU, Philippines — Catholic leaders in Cebu have urged the faithful to surrender rosary beads and other religious items believed to be “cursed or infested” for them to be properly disposed of.

This was Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo’s advice on the heels of a report saying “satanic” rosaries are present in Cebu City.

“If anyone feels disturbed by it, he or she can dispose of the rosary by giving it to the parish church. The parish priest will then take care of it by properly disposing it… But please make proper distinction between the so-called satanic rosary and the regular rosary,” Villarojo told The FREEMAN yesterday.

He said the faithful should remain steadfast in praying the rosary “by all means,” especially when people’s faith is tested by certain groups wanting to destroy its sacredness and deceive them instead.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio, for his part, told the faithful not to be anxious about these “cursed” religious items but rather be more prayerful to keep any form of evil away. He pointed out that a rosary, in particular, is not satanic by itself.

“Let us continue praying the rosary but if your honest judgment tells you that the rosary is infested, then don’t use it,” he said.

In an article from the online news website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, an exorcist from the Diocese of Novaliches warned Catholics that satanic rosaries and religious items have reached the country.

Florencio, however, believed that the issue may just be "hyped" by some people's obsession.

He agreed that the local Church may consider on regulating the sale of religious items but he was quick to point out that vendors may disapprove of the suggestion.

He also advised the faithful to be keener in selecting what religious items to buy and from which stores.

“People should buy those (religious items) in more respected places than usual, places that are duly recognized and have been known to be in the business for a time so that we are assured of the quality of the rosaries,” he said.

Interviewed separately, Father Glenn Therese Guanzon, director of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Worship, also agreed that people should buy religious objects at accredited and legitimate religious stores to avoid ending up being used.

Guanzon said people should be careful in buying rosaries and they should check whether these have “satanic” symbols.

He added that people must refrain from using rosaries with symbols like the sun above the head of the crucified Christ, instead of the word “INRI”; and the symbol of the serpent around the cross.

“If we find such rosaries, let us just surrender these to any priest or parish for proper disposal… But one doesn’t have to panic,” he said.

Fe Barino, president of Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity, also issued a statement expressing the group’s stand about the issue after discussing it in a meeting with the members of the charismatic council.

“There is nothing to fear. It is written in 1 John 4:4 ‘...God's Spirit who is in you is greater than the devil, who is in the world.’ (But) it depends on one's faith. A rosary is just an instrument. However, if in doubt, better not accept or use it,” she said in a text message.

As a way of helping out the local clergy, there are charismatic communities in Cebu that are trained to do deliverance prayer and assist in disposing these items, said Barino.

“They can go to Archdiocesan Healing Ministry at Sto. Rosario, Mary's Little Children Community in Tabunok, Talisay or any charismatic community that are trained to do healing and deliverance,” she said. (FREEMAN)