CBCP calls for peace, sobriety amid conflict with Rody

MANILA, Philippines — The pastoral exhortation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that called for peace and sobriety among the faithful amid the Church’s conflict with President Duterte was read during masses in churches in Metro Manila over the weekend.

The letter issued by CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles after their 117th plenary assembly last week was read in all parishes upon the request of Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of the Archdiocese of Manila.

The letter urged Filipino Catholics “to remain steadfast in our common vocation and mission to actively work for peace... in these times of darkness, when there’s so much hatred and violence, when murder has become an almost daily occurrence, when people have gotten so used to exchanging insults and hurting words in the social media.”

It was also read in anticipated masses last Saturday and in regular masses yesterday.

The archdiocese, in a circular issued by its chancellor Fr. Reginald Malicdem on July 11, asked all parish priests, rectors and chaplains to read the CBCP letter during the masses.

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of CBCP public affairs committee, said the letter was also read in other churches nationwide upon discretion of bishops in their dioceses.

“The bishops thought that Filipinos should know the stand of the Church on issues besetting the country today,” he explained.

The CBCP issues a pastoral statement every year at the conclusion of its plenary assembly. The statements of the bishops serve as guidance to priests as well as the Church’s flock, but they were previously not read in masses.

In the two-page “Rejoice and Be Glad” pastoral exhortation, CBCP called for peace and sobriety amid its conflict with President Duterte.

The bishops stressed that the Church and the faithful should not counter the attacks hurled against it.

“Vengeance is never the way of Christ. It is not the way of Jesus to return evil for evil; no, we can conquer evil only with good (Romans 12:21). Up to the last moment of his breath, he had nothing but words of mercy towards his tormentors, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do (Lk 23:34)’,” read the CBCP letter.

But the bishops drew the line and would not compromise when it comes to the core teachings of the Church.

The CBCP president also gave assurance that they recognize the constitutional provision on the separation of church and state and explained that, “When we speak out on certain issues, it is always from the perspective of faith and morals, especially the principles of social justice, never within any political or ideological agenda in mind.”

“For the stupidity of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength,” Valles quoted the apostle Paul.

To those who were angered by the insulting statements made by people in authority, CBCP said vengeance is never the way of Jesus Christ.

The bishops also denied insinuations that they are involved in destabilizing the government. “Our concern is never the establishment of any earthly kingdoms. Worldly kingdoms come and go. We work only for God’s kingdom which is beyond this world – so that we can start learning to live life ‘on earth as it is in heaven’.”

The CBCP also clarified that they do not regard humans as their enemies, since their battleground is spiritual. 

“Our enemies in this world are not fellow human beings… We do not fight our battles with guns and bullets. We do not seek protection from those who might wish to harm us by wearing bullet-proof vests, because the battles that we fight are spiritual,” it said.

The bishops recalled that even the Savior Jesus Christ suffered and was called crazy or “prince of demons” because he did not compromise with evil. “His peace is never the peace of compromise or capitulation of evil; it is also not about the absence of conflict and turmoil.”

Meanwhile, the CBCP also asked Catholics to observe a three-day prayer, fasting and almsgiving from July 17 to 19 and ask for God’s mercy for those who blasphemed God’s name.