Catholic Church adopts 4Ps approach vs. human trafficking

 News
Mar 162014
 
The Catholic Church is adopting a new “4 Ps” approach to strengthen its efforts against human trafficking, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said this approach involving “Prevention, prosecution, protection and partnership” should particularly protect women and children.

”We partner with all these initiatives so that all these small streams can become a river that can sweep away this evil, as all evil, human trafficking thrives in darkness,” Pabillo told Church-run Radio Veritas.

Excerpts of the interview were posted on the CBCP news site.

Pabillo added this approach is also in support of the United Nations’ protocol to fight the problem.

Also, the CBCP noted the International Justice Mission had said at least 100,000 cases of human trafficking involving children were reported in 2013, including sex trafficking of minors.

“As long as the problem is not recognized, the evil doers can continue and expand their activities. Truth is our powerful weapon,” Pabillo said. — LBG, GMA News

Catholic bishops welcome Quevedo cardinalship

 Entertainment
Jan 152014
 
Catholic bishops welcome Quevedo cardinalship

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps His Excellency Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, leads the traditional toast for the New Year’s Vin d’ Honneur at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (January 11, 2014). The annual reception which marks the 27th Vin d’ Honneur since the 1986 EDSA Revolution was attended by government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, officials of international organizations and businessmen. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Catholic prelates were elated with the naming of Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, OMI as Cardinal by no less than Pope Francis at the Vatican. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle thanked Pope Francis for associating the Cardinal-elect prelate and the church in Mindanao to his Petrine ministry. Over the weekend, the Holy Father announced the names of 19 new Cardinals including Quevedo at the Vatican. “I thank Pope Francis for associating Archbishop Quevedo and the church in Mindanao to his Petrine ministry and solicitude for all the churches,” he said in a statement. He added, “The Church in the Philippines and Asia has been greatly blessed these past decades by the service and leadership of Archbishop Quevedo. Now this blessing extends to the whole Church.” The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) immediately welcomed the news on the Archbishop of Cotabato’s being named as a Cardinal. “He is known in the CBCP for his mental clarity and intellectual Read More …

CBCP to distribute 1,000 bibles to areas affected by ‘Yolanda’

 Entertainment
Nov 292013
 
CBCP to distribute 1,000 bibles to areas affected by ‘Yolanda’

Residents, who survived Super Typhoon Haiyan, receive holy communion during Sunday mass inside the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban city, central Philippiness November 17, 2013. Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan flocked to ruined churches on Sunday, kneeling in prayer under torn roofs as the Philippines faced an enormous rebuilding task from the storm that killed at least 3,681 people and displaced 4 million. The Philippines is facing up to an enormous rebuilding task from Typhoon Haiyan, with many isolated communities yet to receive significant aid despite a massive international relief effort.(MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – After sending 3,000 rosaries, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) through the Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA) will be sending 1,000 copies of Tagalog Bibles to the survivors of typhoon “Yolanda” that ravaged the Central Philippines. Dr. Natividad Pagadut, ECBA executive secretary, said they hope to help those affected in the different dioceses in the Visayas to stand-up again and strengthen their faith by giving them the Bibles. “The distribution of the Bible will hopefully help them to stand up again, to strengthen their faith, and to improve as persons. So it is best to couple it with formation, counseling and to guide them on what to read in the Bible during this time. With this, they will be consoled, challenged, they will gain hope to move on, and get up from this terrible experience,” she said in an article posted on the CBCP news website. Pagadut believed that the giving out of Read More …

CBCP: Yolanda, Magnitude-7.2 quake tests of faith

 News
Nov 232013
 
CBCP: Yolanda, Magnitude-7.2 quake tests of faith

The twin calamities that struck the country in the last two months may be considered severe tests of faith for Filipinos, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Saturday. But the CBCP, in a pastoral statement signed by outgoing president and Cebu archbishop Jose Palma, said Filipinos should also learn the lessons from the Oct. 15 magnitude-7.2 quake in Central Visayas and Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). “Indeed the twin calamities have tested severely our faith. Yet, even now, we believe we shall emerge from their situations with more awareness of the pattern of nature and hopefully learn its lessons,” Palma said. “By strengthening the systems and institutions that mitigate the effects of these forces of nature, we can avoid the recurrence of the present tragedy,” he added. The statement came on the eve of the Solemnity of Christ the King on Sunday. Several were killed when the Oct. 15 quake struck Central Visayas while more than 5,000 were left dead in the wake of Yolanda, which battered Visayas and Southern Luzon. Palma said no words can describe the sorrow that many in Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Samar have suffered. “The calamities have tested our spirit as a community,” he said. Exercising faith However, he said that with the Year of Faith coming to a close, “we have been called upon to exercise our faith by putting our trust in the Lord and reaching out to help each other.” “Once again we treasure the precious gift of faith. It will Read More …

Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

 News
Sep 052013
 
Pinoy youths to represent country at animators' meet in Timor Leste

Filipino youths will share learning and best practices with their counterparts from other countries at the Southeast Asia 2 Youth Animators’ Meeting and Workshop in Dili, Timor Leste on September 8 to 13. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the gathering held every two years will have representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, and Timor Leste. “This initiative is to help countries share the richness of youth ministry for the possibility for the exchange of information to happen, to take place, especially best practices in doing youth ministry,” said CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) executive secretary Fr. Conegundo Garganta. Representatives from the ECY and the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate (NSYA), as well as youth leaders from several regions in the Philippines will be attending the workshop, the CBCP said on its news site. Garganta said the meet seeks to establish solidarity and unity among the SEA2 countries by threshing out youth issues unique to the region. It will also have the participants “collectively exploring ways of journeying with and assisting young Asian Catholics,” he added. Organized by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences Office on Laity and Family Life (FABC-OFL), the SEA2 Meeting and Workshop aims to have participants share “views and opinions to motivate the youth animators.”   Meanwhile, the CBCP said the participants will reflect on and be guided by the messages of Pope Francis, especially during this Year of Faith. Indonesia hosted the last SEA2 meeting. — LBG, GMA News

Outgoing CBCP head backs EDSA anti-pork vigil

 News
Sep 052013
 
Outgoing CBCP head backs EDSA anti-pork vigil

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Thursday expressed solidarity with participants to an upcoming prayer vigil against the pork barrel system at the EDSA Shrine on September 11. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also called on the Catholics to make Saturday, Sept. 7, a “Day of Atonement” for letting corruption the pork system offend God. “It’s about time that people manifest their own conviction. The people have already organized. Ours is an expression of solidarity,” he said. Next week’s vigil is a follow-up of sorts to the anti-pork gathering at the Luneta in Manila last Aug. 26. Participants in the Aug. 26 gathering had called for the abolition of the pork barrel system in the wake of a P10-billion scam involving ghost non-government organizations that siphoned funds from the Priority Development Assistance Fund. Contrition In a pastoral statement Palma signed, the CBCP said “God is offended” because His commandments against stealing, coveting others’ goods and bearing false witness against neighbors are violated. It added the faithful’s first response to the pork barrel issue must be not protest but contrition. “We are not just victims of a corrupt system. We have all, in one way or another, contributed to this worsening social cancer—through our indifferent silence or through our cooperation when we were benefiting from the sweet cake of graft and corruption,” it said. While Palma urged the Catholic faithful to join Pope Francis in offering prayers and sacrifices on September 7 for peace Read More …

CBCP readies for RH battle before SC, Villegas vows fight for church beliefs

 News
Jul 082013
 
CBCP readies for RH battle before SC, Villegas vows fight for church beliefs

The new leader of the Catholic bishops in the Philippines said Monday they will continue to fight for their church beliefs, including their reasons for opposing the Reproductive Health law.  Incoming Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas stressed this as several lawyers of the 14 anti-RH law petitions attended a Mass in Manila Monday, the eve of the arguments before the Supreme Court. He said it is the Church’s duty to fight for its stand on various issues. “We are NOT social troublemakers.  We are CONSCIENCE troublemakers,” he said with his Twitter account. “We are not a lobby group.  We are not rally organizers.  We are not another NGO.  We are Christ’s followers,” he said in another tweet. Anti-RH activities In a separate article posted on the CBCP news site early Tuesday, Catholic bishops invoked God’s blessings and guidance for lawyers who will argue against the RH law before the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the anti-RH law lawyers and petitioners are to attend a Mass at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita, Manila at 9 a.m. “Our first support for the SC process will be a Mass and a prayer vigil because that is our first priority. Our first contribution is to show to the world that prayer has power to change the world,” said Villegas. He added there will be a prayer vigil and a Mass “because we believe in the Church that the Mass can change and Read More …

CBCP official: Suicide is a sin

 News
Jun 292013
 
CBCP official: Suicide is a sin

A gentle reminder from a Catholic priest: committing suicide is a sin. “[The] taking of one’s life is a sin. The Church would not condone that for whatever reason. We must understand that oftentimes, when somebody tries to kill himself, there is something wrong with him mentally…that is the best way the Church understands those who try to kill themselves,” said Fr. Francis Lucas, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Social Communication and Mass Media. However, the CBCP official refused to comment on the case of outgoing Cagayan de Oro (First District) Rep. Benjo Benaldo, since the latter has kept mum on what happened the Thursday night he was found bleeding from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. “Well first, it is not proven. It’s not yet confirmed. We cannot comment unless he confirms it himself. It is just an allegation up to today. The police does not even confirm this,” Fr. Lucas added. Fr. Lucas also advised that those who survived their suicide attempts to go to confession and to atone for trying to end his/her life. The priest added that people who are facing difficulties in life should talk to people they trust and also to a priest who might understand their situation.  He ended the interview with a reminder of the value of life. “Life is so precious because it was given by God…I always say we have rights, but it’s God who owns our [lives]…life is just a lease Read More …

Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

 News
May 252013
 
Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

The Philippines may get a visit from Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) in 2016 if a request by the Vatican is any indication, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said he received a request from the Vatican to move the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) slated in Cebu City to an earlier date: January 25 to 31, instead of May 23 to 29. “Two weeks ago, we received a letter from (Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee on the International Eucharistic Congress) asking us if we could move the event to the second preferred date because the pope has another schedule in May,” Palma said in an article on the CBCP website on Wednesday. “We told them that January is fine because our suggestion was to make the pope’s visit to the Philippines a priority,” he added. The Philippines had already started preparations for hosting the event, which is expected to draw thousands of laity and Church leaders from around the world. Held every four years, the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 will reflect on the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.” Meanwhile, Palma called on the Filipino faithful to continue praying Pope Francis will indeed make a papal visit to the Philippines. “We know that the pope continues to inspire us and his visit will have an enormous impact on our faith and our Christian life,” he said. Pope Francis’ first international visit Meanwhile, Read More …

Bishops contest SWS survey claiming fewer Pinoys attend Mass

 News
Apr 102013
 
Bishops contest SWS survey claiming fewer Pinoys attend Mass

Catholic bishops on Wednesday contested findings by pollster Social Weather Stations which said Filipino Catholics’ church attendance had dwindled from 64 percent in 1991 to a mere 37 percent now. In an article on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines news site, bishops maintained Mass attendance was still strong. “I think a scientific study should be made to validate such observation… In the diocese, I do not see this observation and in fact the number of churchgoers increased because we have mall Masses,” Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said. Quiapo Church rector Msgr. Clemente Ignacio added he could not believe the SWS survey claim, citing a big increase in churchgoers and devotees of the Black Nazarene. Devotees of the Black Nazarene are among the most demonstrative, taking part in a yearly procession, which can be characterized as near-dangerous, of the Black Nazarene to the Quiapo Church. For his part, former CBCP president and Jaro (Iloilo) Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said church attendance has been good in Iloilo province’s 93 parishes. “It’s a matter of minus and plus. There are those who no longer go to Sunday Mass but there are also new Catholics who started to go to Sunday Mass,” Lagdameo said., He added the nine Masses in Jaro cathedral are still filled to capacity. Meanwhile, in Mindanao, Marbel Diocese in South Cotabato built a new parish last December 30. Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez added that they will inaugurate another new parish this coming June 24., “In our 26 parishes, church Read More …

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