This
is not your typical news wherein a high ranking official of the Catholic church
would openly support the president, especially since 2016 he has his own entanglements
with each other.
The
Diocese of Legazpi has declared Monday, July 27, as a "Day of Prayer and
Fasting" in all parishes in Albay, the same day where the President is scheduled
to deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
A
pastoral letter was issued by Bishop Joel Baylon calling
all parish priests and the religious and lay people to offer prayers for the
President and all government officials.
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| Bishop Joel Baylon of Legazpi (photo credit to PNA) |
The
pastoral letter will be read by 47 parishes across the province during which
will also offer Holy Masses for
peace, reconciliation and healing in the country.
Bishop
Baylon likewise encouraged the parishes to have a “Holy Hour” where priests and
the faithful can hold “organized prayers" after the last mass in the morning.
"Our
nation will once again listen to (the) President's SONA. As Catholic citizens
of this nation, let us pray that the light of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel be
their guide in making decisions for the country," he said.
In the same pastoral letter, the bishop reminded government
leaders that public office is a public trust; that they must, at all
times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility,
integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead
modest and exemplary lives.
"In the end, like all of us, they are
accountable to God," he said.
The Bishop also said: “We are not enemies of the
State. We are not anti-government. The church is in fact a great collaborator
of the government especially amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, during many
calamities like typhoon volcanic eruptions and other disasters.”
The church, according to him, respects the mandates
of officials to govern the country, but “we, as shepherds of the flock, also
have to fulfill our pastoral duty of proclaiming the Gospel values and ensuring
that human rights are not threatened and always respected".
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Report from PNA
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