CBCP MARCH 16 - 29, 2020, VOL 24, NO. 6 [email protected] PROTAGONIST OF TRUTH, PROMOTER OF PEACE Several dioceses suspend Masses due to coronavirus By Roy Lagarde A RISING number of dioceses in the Philippines are making changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak, including a decision by bishops to suspend Masses. The first to make the move were the bishops of Metro Manila, where majority of the confirmed cases of the COVID1-19 are recorded. In a statement, the bishops of Manila, Cubao, Kalookan, Pasig, Novaliches, Parañaque, Antipolo, Malolos and the military ordinariate have released a unified response to the pandemic. “We will abide by the government’s directive to suspend all large gatherings from March 15 to April 14,” part of the letter, issued on March 16, read. This means, according to them, that there will be no public Masses and other religious activities within the said period, including the Holy Week. The Department of Health confirmed March 18 that COVID-19 cases in the country have jumped to 202, while A worker sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus at the Divino Amor Church in Lipa City on March 17, 2020. JUN SANTIAGO III, CSSR fatalities increased to 17. The country has also Several other dioceses suspended in the Diocese Bishops Roberto Mallari for private prayer. They also and the internet. recorded seven recoveries including San Pablo, Legazpi, of Urdaneta from March 16 of San Jose and Dennis decided that their daily Mass “We should encourage the so far. Bacolod, Dumaguete, to 23 “unless the situation Villarojo of Malolos also will be broadcast live on faithful to avail themselves Public Masses have also Boac and Balanga. Imus, dictates otherwise”, said ordered the cancellation of social media. of these and pray together been cancelled indefinitely Kidapawan, Mati and Bishop Jacinto Jose. public worship services in The Catholic Bishops’ in their homes as a family in the archdioceses of Tagbilaran have also shut Bishop Jose also said that their dioceses until April 14. Conference of the Philippines or in their small Christian Cebu, Davao, Jaro, Caceres, down public Masses to avert parishioners are dispensed Churches in the said (CBCP) has encouraged the communities,” said San Fernando, Lipa and the spread of the virus. from their Sunday obligation dioceses, however, will dioceses to make Masses Archbishop Romulo Valles Tuguegarao. Public Masses are also on March 29. remain open to the public available on radio, television of Davao, CBCP President. Bishops to Duterte: Stick to real issues Archbishop Soc: ‘Don’t forget IT’S not as if the Philippines is lacking real issues. the poor’ amid Covid-19 spread Catholic bishops said President Rodrigo Duterte must stick to real and urgent issues instead of wasting time on “unfounded” accusations. They said that the rising cases of coronavirus and the controversies hounding the offshore gambling activities in the country alone ought to be able to keep Duterte busy. “I suggest that we go back to the real issues of the day,” said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan and the Vice President of the Philippine bishops’ conference and March 11. He particularly urged Duterte Issues / A6 Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. CBCPNEWS Catholics wear protective masks as they pray at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Parañaque City on March 11, 2020. ELMARC LIM Trampling on women’s dignity is a sin, says bishop AS cases of coronavirus continue to Lingayen-Dagupan said the poor rise in the Philippines, a Catholic deserve protection for they barely EXPLOITING women various forms of archbishop said the poor must not have access to basic services, they or treating them like discrimination as be forgotten in the rush to address are the “most vulnerable”. objects is “a direct among those that the health concerns. “They who have less in life must offense against violate the “intrinsic Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Spread / A6 God,” an official of being” of women. the Catholic Bishops’ “Every woman is Conference of the entitled to the respect Kalookan diocese offers churches Philippines said. of every man and other Saying that God women; no woman as ‘field hospitals’ made man and woman should ever be treated according to his own as a mere object for A CATHOLIC diocese in Metro “If we need to open our Churches, image and likeness, another person’s Manila has offered its churches chapels, and schools and turn them Bishop Crispin satisfaction,” Bishop and schools as temporary ‘field into temporary field hospitals for Varquez said that Varquez said. hospitals’ for coronavirus patients the sick, we should do so in the every offense against The prelate, who if the need arises. name of Christian compassion and the dignity of women heads the CBCP Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of charity,” David said in a statement is a sin. Office on Women, Kalookan said the diocese is willing released March 14. He cited made the statement to open its facilities in the event “Let us make ourselves ready prostitution, sexual in his message for the Bishop Crispin Varquez of Borongan, Chairman of the CBCP Commission on Women. that public health facilities become to volunteer and mobilize other abuse, violence and Dignity / A6 ALREN BERONIO/ESTE NEWS insufficient. Hospitals / A6 A2 WORLD NEWS March 16 - 29, 2020, Vol 24, No. 6 CBCP Monitor Vatican Briefing Washington DC homeless shelter serves the poor despite coronavirus fears At Mass, pope offers special prayers for prisoners Pope Francis dedicated his third livestreamed morning WASHINGTON D.C.— As Mass to prisoners suffering because Italian government the Coronavirus (COVID-19) measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus have spreads in the U.S., one included the suspension of visits by family and friends. Catholic organization is “We continue to pray for the sick of this epidemic,” the trying to protect a population pope said before reciting the opening antiphon of Mass that is particularly vulnerable March 11. “Today, in a special way,” he said, “I want to to the spread of contagious pray for prisoners, for our brothers and sisters locked illnesses—the city’s homeless. up in prison. They suffer, and we must be close to them “One of the repercussions with our prayer that the Lord would help them, console of being homeless is that them in this difficult moment.” (Cindy Wooden/CNS) those sorts of hygiene habits kind of go by the wayside,” Peruvian cardinal says Sodalitium should be ‘dissolved’ said Kim Cox, president of Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno of Huancayo the Father McKenna Center said he believes Sodalitium Christianae Vitae and any in Washington, D.C. which other religious movement mired in sexual abuse should ministers to homeless men be dissolved. In an interview with Peruvian radio station in the area. Radio Santa Rosa March 9, Cardinal Barreto said She noted that the center, which emphasizes that while “there are good people in Sodalitium,” the Clients and volunteers at the Fr. McKenna Center in Washington, D.C. THE FATHER MCKENNA CENTER cases of sexual and physical abuse, as well as financial community among the irregularities, cannot be ignored. “Personally, I think that men who visit, also stresses take control of their lives. spread of the virus. Lacking centered mission. when a religious organization has committed a crime, personal hygiene - including “Our real devotion is to shelter and exposed to the “One of the things that, because it has to be said that way—from the point of view good hand-washing practices help these guys get convinced elements, many have poor I think, sets a faith-based of sexual abuse and the economic side where there are - as part of a lifestyle as that they deserve a better life, hygiene because of lack of organization apart from a also problems—it has to be dissolved,” he said. (Junno conducive as possible to good and that there’s a way to get access to soap and facilities secular organization that Arocho Esteves/CNS) health. to it,” Cox told CNA. like showers. serves the same population “They need to stay healthy,” Making matters more The Father McKenna is that we genuinely believe Pandemic a time of understanding value of brotherhood, Cox said, emphasizing the complex for the center is the center has already taken these guys are redeemable,” cardinal says need for the homeless to threat of the Coronavirus precautions to prevent the Cox said. While the coronavirus pandemic gripping the world avoid habits like drinking (COVID-19). The global spread of the virus, Cox told “That is, we believe that highlights the frailty of human life, it is also an opportunity and drug use that could outbreak has resulted in CNA, mandating the use they can change. We believe for people to unite in solidarity, a Vatican official said. compromise their immune more than 113,000 confirmed of hand sanitizer for staff that they can make decisions “For each person, believer or nonbeliever, this is a good systems. “We can only just cases and more than 4,000 and homeless clients. Staff to change their lives to be time to understand the value of brotherhood, of being remind them of appropriate deaths, according to the have been trained to look better.” linked to one another in an indissoluble way,” Cardinal behavior and encourage them World Health Organization. for signs of Coronavirus in The organization’s mission, Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting to take it on,” she said. According to the U.S. the homeless patrons, and Cox said, flows from the Integral Human Development, said in a statement The Father McKenna Centers for Disease Control, to send them to a nearby belief that man is made “in March 11.