CBCP JANUARY 25 - 27, 2021 - VOL 25, NO.Monitor 2 [email protected] PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE Bishops offer church facilities Red-tagging incidents as vaccination hubs ‘worrisome’ — CBCP THE country’s Catholic bishops By Roy Lagarde on Jan. 28 said they are willing to transform church facilities into Covid-19 vaccination sites. THE spate of red- Archbishop Romulo Valles, tagging incidents in president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the country has been said the Church’s role is to serve described as ‘worrisome’ God and His people. by the Catholic Bishops’ And during this pandemic, he Conference of the said that helping in the vaccine Philippines. roll-out is an effective way they can do those things. Speaking in a virtual press “The bishops decided to offer, conference on Jan. 28, CBCP vice if needed, church facilities to be president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David vaccination centers or facilities of Kalookan said the recent red-tagging related to the vaccination involving activists and universities is a program,” Valles said in a virtual serious cause for concern. press conference after their two- “It is becoming worrisome. day online plenary assembly. Definitely,” David said. “I think The bishops acknowledged there is reason for people to be how daunting the vaccination afraid when that becomes a trend.” program can be so they wanted The prelate spoke to the media to help out. following their unprecedented online “We can offer our church plenary assembly, that saw over 80 facilities to help in this bishops discuss pressing issues and massive and complicated and the Church’s continuing response very challenging program of According to him, red-tagging vaccination,” Valles said. brings back memories of being The government earlier said it under the dictatorship during the is targeting to inoculate at least martial law regime. Red-tagging / A6 Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, CBCP Vice President, speaks during their virtual plenary assembly on Jan. 27, 2021. CBCP NEWS 50 to 70 million individuals within the year. If necessary, Valles said they are also willing to roll up their sleeves in public and get Pope Francis calls Philippine bishops vaccinated if it can help build confidence in vaccine campaign. “If the Holy Father and the Pope Emeritus had themselves to ‘evangelical charity’ vaccinated (in public) and, in my estimation, it helps… if POPE Francis has called with open doors’, offering atteneded the biannual people would see me publicly on Philippine bishops to hope and strength to the meeting, which is usually vaccinated, then why not” Valles continue their efforts in suffering and to all who held in January and July. said. giving concrete witness to seek a more humane and Among the items in the “The point is because our “evangelical charity” amid dignified life”. agenda were the reports people understandably have the prevailing coronavirus The pope also assured from the nine regional this fear of the vaccine. So if our pandemic. his support and blessings representatives of the CBCP being vaccinated is a big help, In his message for the to members of the CBCP as Permanent Council about then why not,” he added. bishops’ virtual plenary they discuss matters that their situation amid the Echoing Valles’ statement, assembly, he expressed affect the Church and the pandemic, their responses Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, hope that their deliberations country. and plans of action. CBCP Vice President, said they will lead to “more creative His message was read to The bishops will are willing to help allay some expressions” of pastoral the assembly on Jan. 26 by also discuss updates on Archbishop Charles John Brown (on screen), Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, people’s fear of the vaccine. charity. Archbishop Charles John delivers the message of Pope Francis for the CBCP 121st online plenary assembly the plans for this year’s “Anything that can allay the In doing so, he said it Brown, apostolic Nuncio to on Jan. 26. PHOTO BY ROY LAGARDE quincentennial celebration fears of vaccination, we will offer would enable the Church the Philippines. of the coming of Christianity in the Church,” he said. (CBCP in the Philippines “to be The bishops’ 121st plenary an online format from Jan. health crisis. to the Philippines. (CBCP News) recognized as ‘a home assembly is taking place in 26 to 27 because of the More than 80 bishops News) CBCP remains opposed to Charter change Church renews commitment to THE Catholic Bishops’ abolish ‘arancel’ despite pandemic Conference of the Philippines remains opposed to any moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, its leaders said Jan. 28. Speaking to the media virtually after their two- day plenary assembly, CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao said there is no need to rush Charter change in the midst of a pandemic. “When I mentioned two previous documents from the CBCP, with prudent wordings, we said not yet, not this time,” Valles said. Parishioners attend Mass at the Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Church in Manila’s Bishop Pablo Virgilio Malate district on Dec. 18, 2020. CBCP NEWS David of Kalookan, CBCP Vice President, said their THE Catholic Church in the poor to receive God’s grace CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao presides over the bishops’ online plenary assembly from his residence in previous pastoral statements Davao City on Jan. 26, 2021. CBCP NEWS Philippines has reaffirmed and blessings”. on Charter change are still its commitment to abolish “Let us do our best, then, to relevant. bishops during their online in the agenda of Cha-cha “Therefore, the charter the “arancel” system even remove obstacles to genuine “We are against Charter meeting held on Jan. 26 when our focus and priority change can be used as a ploy amidst the crisis spurred by service, especially to the change, based on previous to 27, amid renewed talks should be the pandemic?” for no-eL (no election), term- the Covid-19 pandemic. poor,” Valles said. statements. And we still are,” on tinkering with the The bishops’ social action extension, or a revolutionary In a “pastoral statement on “This is a concrete step David said. economic provisions of the arm, in a separate statement, government—all of which stewardship”, the Catholic in renewing ourselves in “We have made ourselves Constitution. also warned against Charter are detrimental to people’s Bishops’ Conference of the the practice of stewardship, very clear in the 2018 CBCP David said having change under an “unstable welfare,” it said. Philippines (CBCP) stressed praying that others may see pastoral statement on lawmakers use the pandemic governance”. Nassa also asked the that the arancel has become us truly ‘as good stewards of Charter change. It is still very as reason to again push “The present unstable faithful to openly participate prejudicial against the poor. God’s varied graces,” he said. relevant. The basic questions constitutional amendments governance is very susceptible in the political exercise by Archbishop Romulo Valles The bishops’ statement was are still the same. Why now?” is what makes things worse. to corruption of the mind,” being vigilant and lobbying of Davao, CBCP President, issued on Jan. 28, following he said. “All the more reason to said the National Secretariat politicians to stop Charter said that the fixed amount their two-day plenary Charter change was among be suspicious,” David said. for Social Action, Justice and change at this time. (CBCP asked for church services assembly held online. the topics discussed by the “Why you would be bringing Peace (Nassa). News) “can be a hindrance for the Arancel / A6 A2 WORLD NEWS JANUARY 25 - 27, 2021 - VOL 25, NO. 2 CBCP Monitor UN adopts resolution on protecting religious sites Vatican Briefing The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Jan. 21 calling for greater efforts to protect religious sites from Vatican cardinal speaks out against social stigma acts of terrorism and asking for a global for leprosy patients conference on the subject. People with leprosy suffer not only from physical Titled “Promoting a culture of peace disease but also from harmful social stigmas which can and tolerance to safeguard religious lead to mental illness, Cardinal Peter Turkson said on sites,” the resolution asks Secretary Sunday. In a message for World Leprosy Day on Jan. General Antonio Guterres to launch an 31, the cardinal encouraged people to include those international conference to discuss the sick with leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, in best means of implementing the United their communities and relationships. “Not everyone Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard will have the skills or expertise to cure Hansen’s disease Religious Sites. physically, but everyone is capable of promoting that “Religious sites are representative culture of encounter which brings about healing and the of the history, social fabric and mental well-being of those affected by this distressing traditions of people in every country illness,” he said. (Hannah Brockhaus/CNA) and community all over the world and should be fully respected as such,” the Pope Francis encourages catechists to lead resolution says. others to a personal encounter with Jesus The resolution highlights the Pope Francis said Saturday that catechists have the increasing threats to culturally vital responsibility of leading others to a personal and spiritually significant sites by encounter with Jesus through prayer, the sacraments, United Nations Headquarters in New York. UN PHOTO terrorists and militias, who have at and Scripture. “The kerygma is a person: Jesus Christ. times destroyed religious property and and potential targets as well as “ensure and cultures. Catechesis is a special space for fostering a personal illicitly trafficked artifacts. that comprehensive measures are in Saudi Arabia proposed the resolution, encounter with Him,” Pope Francis said in the The resolution denounces “all attacks place for the immediate response to which was co-sponsored by Arab Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace Jan.