Faithful urged: Keep cemeteries sacred

MANILA, Philippines — Two Catholic bishops reminded the public yesterday to avoid karaoke sessions and littering during All Saints’ Day today and All Souls’ Day tomorrow, noting that these are religious activities that must be observed solemnly. 

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Laity chairman, said the proper thing to do is to visit and offer prayers for the dead, especially those still in purgatory. 

“We have a communion. That is why those still living pray for those (souls) in purgatory and the living express their gratitude for those who are in heaven and we ask for their prayers. The only ones not included in this communion are those in hell since they are no longer within the grace of God and those who have committed grave sins while they were still living,” Pabillo said. 

Pabillo also asked the faithful to remember the saints. 

For his part, CBCP vice president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David called on the public to keep cemeteries as sacred grounds and not turn them into dumpsites. 

“I am appealing, let us not abuse the tombs of our dearly departed with the trash... That is an environmental disaster and that is a form of abuse. Please let us be more mindful of the holiness, the sacredness of the cemeteries. That is why we refer to them as ‘kampo santo’ or ‘sacred ground’,” David said over the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Several tons of garbage are collected from different cemeteries in the country after the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.