Giovanna Fontanilla (2nd left), director of the University of Santo Tomas Community Development Office, announces Pope Francis’ activities when he visits the pontifical university during his trip to the Philippines in January. The Pope will meet with leaders of various religions and youth representatives. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, on Sunday said, “there is virtue in silence,” an apparent reply to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s attacks on the church.
“There is virtue in silence. There is virtue in speech. Wisdom is knowing when it is time for silence and when is the timing for speech,” Villegas said in a statement entitled “Understanding Silence.”
Villegas went on to say, “Mine is the silence of Jesus before the arrogance of Pilate.”
Duterte has criticized bishops, warning them he will reveal their secrets and sins.
He also lamented that the separation of church is no longer being observed.
For instance, during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, bishops allegedly asked the chief executive for vehicles, he said.
On Thursday, Duterte said there is hypocrisy in sectors of society, including the Catholic Church.
In his statement, Villegas said, “There is nobility in silence like the silence of the lambs brought to slaughter in the temple to atone for sins.”
The CBCP presidentadded, “You can understand my speech if you speak the language of silence. You can understand my silence if you know how to love like Him who was born one silent night.”
“Silence indeed is the language of God and only those who speak silence will be able to grasp Him,” he said. (MNS)