CBCP MAY 25 - JUNE 7, 2020, VOL 24, NO. 11 [email protected] Pope Francis blesses a smattering of faithful — mostly residents of Italy — from his window in the newly reopened St. Peter’s Square after nearly three months of closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, at the Vatican, May 31, 2020. VATICAN MEDIA Bishops urge public to unite against ‘anti-terrorism’ bill By Roy Lagarde stressed that the respect and defense of human rights must be of CATHOLIC leaders called “paramount consideration”. “We maintain that the proposed on the public to unite law is open to abuse by despotic against the passage of governments to visit terror against a new anti-terrorism critics and the people in general,” measure, which critics according to Alminaza. say could be abused by “This government is criminalizing authorities to silence dissent, further suppressing criticism, while at the same time dissent and free speech. evading accountability, in the guise Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of of combating terrorism,” he said. San Carlos has warned that no The House of Representatives one is exempted from its “vague” passed the Anti-Terrorism Act of and “dangerous” provisions, even 2020 on June 3 after President church people. Rodrigo Duterte certified the bill “It is high time that citizens as urgent. and members of civil society The legislation allows the organizations set aside their government to wiretap suspects, differences to combat the passage arrest them without warrants and of this bill,” Alminaza said. detain them for 14 days, among “Now more than ever, we need other provisions. the power of dissenting voices in the If passed into law, the bill would current state of political and public repeal the Human Security Act of health in our country,” he said. 2007 wherein law enforcers can be While the fight against terrorism fined P500,000 for each day they Church people from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) call for the junking of the Anti-Terrorism Bill during a protest in Quezon City is legitimate and necessary, he Unite / A6 on June 2. MARK SALUDES/LICAS.NEWS CBCP cancels plenary Church to give cash aid to OFWs displaced by pandemic THE Catholic Church’s will receive the financial assembly for first migrants ministry is assistance by June. targeting to give financial He said that land-based time in history assistance to some overseas OFWs will receive at least Filipino workers (OFWs) ₱5,000, while sea-based FOR the first time, decision-making body who lost their jobs as a OFWs will receive a cash the Catholic Bishops’ of the CBCP. When they result of the coronavirus voucher worth ₱4,000. Conference of the are not in session, the shutdown. “So this is just for Philippines has cancelled Permanent Council acts Fr. Restituto Ogsimer of distressed and displaced its plenary assembly that for and in behalf of the the bishops’ Commission OFWs who did not receive was planned for next month conference. on Migrants and Itinerant financial aid from any in Manila. The beginnings of the People, said the program government agencies,” The decision was CBCP may be traced back is for land-based and sea- Ogsimer said in a virtual announced by the CBCP to as early as 1945 when based OFWs who did not media forum on May 27. Secretariat on June 5, citing the conference was still receive cash aid from the The short term project, he as reason “the present known as the Catholic government. said, is a collaborative work health condition caused by Welfare Organization Fr. Resty Ogsimer, Executive Secretary of the bishops’ Commission on Migrants and Initially, according to him, of several dioceses, religious the Covid-19 pandemic”. (CWO). Itinerant People. CBCPNEWS about a thousand OFWs Aid / A7 The government has In line with the Vatican earlier banned mass II developments, the Government allows 50% church Online child abuses more ‘venomous’ gatherings due to the CWO became the Catholic than coronavirus — Church official coronavirus crisis. Bishops’ Conference of capacity in MGCQ areas Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP the Philippines in January A CATHOLIC Church official Secretary General, said that 1968. THE government has eased for the Management of has called for concerted the bishops’ annual retreat, Technically, this its restrictions in places of Emerging Infectious Diseases effort to fight online child which usually precedes the is the first time that worship under modified in its amended omnibus sexual exploitation amid July assembly, will be also the bishops’ plenary general community guidelines. reports that the coronavirus moved to January next assembly was cancelled quarantine. “Religious services in lockdowns may be worsening year. since the CBCP was Department of Justice MGCQ areas are allowed the abuses. The assembly, one of the formally established. Secretary Menardo Gueverra up to a maximum of 50% of Bishop Ruperto Santos two annual gatherings of But while it was CWO, affirmed his earlier statement the total seating capacity or of Balanga said everyone the bishops, was scheduled some assemblies were that churches in MGCQ venue,” Gueverra said. should be vigilant to to be held at the Pius XII cancelled because the areas can hold services at 50 He also stressed that the prevent children from being Center on July 11 to 13. bishops were in Rome for percent capacity. decision is “subject to the “unwilling victims”. Held twice a year, the Vatican II meetings in Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga, He said that the rule was government’s minimum Vice Chairman of the CBCP Episcopal “We should condemn the the plenary assembly is the early 1960s. (CBCP adopted on June 3 by the health standards and any Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants viruses of human trafficking considered the highest News) Inter-Agency Task Force MGCQ / A7 and Itinerant People. FILE PHOTO Abuses / A7 A2 WORLD NEWS MAY 25 - JUNE 7, 2020, VOL 24, NO. 11 CBCP Monitor Vatican Briefing American priest heading for beatification died amid a global pandemic Pope Francis: We cannot remain silent as planet is plundered VATICAN— Fr. Michael Pope Francis said June 5 that people should not remain McGivney, an American silent as biodiversity is threatened by destruction and priest soon to be beatified, exploitation, in a message marking World Environment died amid a 19th-century Day. “Caring for ecosystems demands a look to the pandemic which may have future, one that is not concerned only with the immediate been caused by a coronavirus. moment or that seeks a quick and easy profit, but Fr. McGivney founded rather one that is concerned for life and that seeks its the largest world’s largest preservation for the benefit of all,” Pope Francis said Catholic fraternal service in a letter to the host of the 2020 World Environment organization, the Knights of Day. “We cannot remain silent … when we realize the Columbus, in 1882. Today very high costs of the destruction and exploitation of the order formed in his parish the ecosystem. This is not a time to continue looking the basement in New Haven, other way, indifferent to the signs that our planet is being Connecticut, has grown plundered and violated by greed for profit, very often in to more than two million the name of progress,” he said. (CNA) members donating millions to charity each year. Pope Francis prays for the soul of George Floyd McGivney was serving and for peace and justice in US as a parish priest amid the Pope Francis said Wednesday that he is praying for pandemic of 1889-1890, the soul of George Floyd and all victims of racism, according to a press release adding that nothing is gained by violence. “Dear issued by the Knights of brothers and sisters in the United States, I have Columbus May 27. witnessed with great concern the disturbing social Biologists using gene- unrest in your nation in these past days, following the sequencing methods have A studio photo of Fr. Michael J. McGivney, by John Tierney. COURTESY OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS tragic death of Mr George Floyd,” Pope Francis said in attributed the pandemic a video broadcast June 3. “We cannot tolerate or turn a to a type of coronavirus, McGivney himself worked for In addition to his parish from turning to secret blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet according to a Bloomberg a brief time as a child to help duties, he ministered to a societies in times of need. claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At report. This virus, which first support his family. 21-year-old man who was The Knights were named the same time, we have to recognize that the violence appeared in Russia, killed From an early age, on death row for killing a after the explorer Christopher of recent nights is self-destructive and self-defeating. a total of 1 million people however, he sensed a calling police officer while drunk, Columbus. The order’s Nothing is gained by violence and so much is lost,” the worldwide, including 13,000 to the priesthood (two of visiting him daily up until original principles were pope said. (Courtney Mares/CNA) in the United States. his brothers also became his execution. On the day he “unity” and “charity,” with McGivney became seriously priests). He was ordained was due to be hanged, James “fraternity” and “patriotism” Pope Francis blesses global rosary relay for priests ill with pneumonia and died in Baltimore’s Cathedral of Smith comforted the priest, added later. Pope Francis has given his apostolic blessing to a on Aug. 14, 1890, at age 38. the Assumption by Cardinal saying: “Father, your saintly Fr.