Jose Torres Jr.
MANILA (LiCAS News): In a statement issued as Christians around the world marked the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity [January 18 to 25], Catholic and Protestant Church leaders in the Philippines called for unity in the face of “difficult times” and ahead of this year’s national elections.
“With elections only months away, we must all take courage to work together, honouring life and God’s creation,” they said in the January 18 statement.
Signed by Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and Archbishop Angelito R. Lampon of the Episcopal Commission on Ecumenical Affairs of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the statement noted that the country is in a “Kairos [opportune] moment” and urged “active citizenship among our people and insist upon servant leadership from those who desire our votes in the May 2022 national polls.”
The bishops said, “In Christian unity, our prophetic voice and firm stand for Christ-like conduct and life-affirming principles will enable us to join with other Filipinos in discerning who should lead the country.”
The statement stressed, “In these trying times, we must also guard against the powers of darkness that will seek to defraud, deceive, and destroy God’s intended goodness for the Filipino people.”
Citing the Gospel of Matthew 5:14, it exhorted, “Let us be like ‘city on hill’ that cannot be hidden.”
It added, “As a community that evangelises through active participation in the democratic process, we can lead by example, reflecting Christ’s love and joining in a journey toward our desired future, where justice, righteousness, and peace will take root and God’s Shalom will flourish among us.”
Falsehoods and evil peddled through strong-arm governance have not only limited democratic space, but they have led to corruption, scandals and serious shortcomings in social, health, education and other government services
National Council of Churches and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
The bishops said that with Super Typhon Rai [Odette] and the Omicron variant of Covid-19 straining the capacities of local communities and families, “Christians must unite in solidarity with the most vulnerable among us.”
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
They said, “The Filipino people are in need of accompaniment and aid in these difficult times.”
The statement said that as a nation, the Philippines is “also challenged to rise against widespread killings and call for accountability for so-called tokhang [meaning, knock and plead—but now with deadly connotations] and ‘anti-insurgency’ operations.”
It lamented, “The very dignity of life has been violated, as many have been extra-judicially killed.”
The bishops noted, “Falsehoods and evil peddled through strong-arm governance have not only limited democratic space, but they have led to corruption, scandals and serious shortcomings in social, health, education and other government services.”
They added, however, that “such realities must strengthen our resolve and unite our common concern for the people of this land.”
They said, “Like the Magi of old, we are on a journey towards a better way. The better way is to completely change our old ways and bad habits.”
Christ, the statement said, is the “beacon that summons us to move towards hope in a common quest for peace based on justice, love, righteousness, freedom, democracy and dignity of life.
The bishops reiterated their resolve to “offer ourselves in service to the poor, the marginalised, and to the toiling majority who are striving for more prosperous and peaceful futures.”
“We commit to nurturing ecological integrity, both because this is a right thing to do and because such action can lessen the probability of extreme climate events and dangerous pandemics,” they said.
“Together, we celebrate our Christian unity and affirm our deepest desire to participate in a common journey while working and praying together that will bring us to a place where all creation will sing of God’s goodness and will live in harmony and peace,” said the country’s Christian leaders.
