MANILA, Aug. 30 (PNA) — In the midst of the ongoing protest of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members along EDSA-Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the faithful on Sunday to pray for the dispute to be immediately resolved.
In a statement, CBCP president Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued several guidelines on what the Catholic faithful should do in the situation currently faced by the INC.
“Pray for a peaceful and just resolution of the present dispute, in a manner both pleasing to God and in conformity with the democratic convictions enunciated in our Constitution,” he said.
“If we turn to the Lord in sincere prayer, then, we are firm in the faith that all wounds shall be healed,” the Lingayen-Dagupan prelate added.
Villegas said the people should not meddle in the controversy.
“Be charitable at all times and in all circumstances. No Catholic should fan the flames of dissension by rumor-mongering and by inflammatory statements. Let all be kind in disposition, respectful in speech and prudent in action,” he added.
With this, Villegas asked lawyers to explain to the public on what the law provides on the issue being questioned by the protesters.
“Seek enlightenment. We appeal to our Catholic lawyers, jurists and law professors to contribute to the ongoing discourse in a constructive manner, without condemnation. We seek to be enlightened on what the fundamental law of the land provides, the boundaries of the freedom of religion and the rights and the prerogatives of State,” he said.
The CBCP head added, “Abide by the law. Unless it is convincingly shown that a law offends moral precepts, obedience to the law is a Christian duty. Sons and daughters of the Church cannot be less observant of the law than other citizens of the Republic.”
Villegas also asked the public to honor places of worship. “Respect Holy sites. The EDSA Shrine is a Catholic center of worship. It is a church. There is a Catholic priest assigned to it. We ask that all respect the sacred character of the EDSA Shrine.”
At the same time, the Catholic prelate is hoping that politicians will not take advantage of the situation for their personal gains.
“No to opportunism. No politician should gain political ground by abetting dissension or, worse, fostering disregard of the Constitution and the law. Neither is it morally correct for any political party to aim at gaining an advantage by controlling a religious sect known to propose to its members a chosen set of candidates,” he said.(PNA)