‘Repent, stop killings, start healing,’ CBCP head tells Filipinos
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Nov. 5 appealed to Filipinos to end the drug-related killings and start the nation's healing by promoting the dignity of human life.
A curse awaits if killings does not stop, said Villegas in his homily at the Eucharistic celebration of the “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” at the historical Edsa Shrine.
“Kapag hindi natin itinigil ang patayan, may sumpang parusa ang bayang pumapatay sa sariling kababayan. Repent, so healing can begin. Stopping the killings is only one big step,” he said.
Villegas condemned those who praised the killings of the government’s war on drugs.
Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urges the Filipinos to repent and to start the nation's healing during his homily at the EDSA Shrine on Nov. 5. Photo by Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz of The Spiral Journal.
“Ang pakiusap na itigil na ang patayan ay panaghoy ng mahigit sampung libong kababayan nating nabaril dahil nanlaban daw o kaya ay binaril ng di makilalang tao,” he said.
“Naligaw na tayo ng landas at pinili natin ang kadiliman kaysa liwanag. Bakit tayo pumapalakpak sa patayan? Pinipili natin ang karahasan kaysa kapayapaan,” Villegas added.
Church on Filipinos' apathy, governance
Villegas expressed his dismay to Filipinos who are indifferent of serious issues like the drug-related killings.
“Ang dating bayan ng mga bayani ay naging bayang walang pakiramdam [at] walang pakialam. Magsisi ang manhid,” he said.
“Hindi ito ang Pilipinas. Hindi ganito ang Pilipino! Ang inaawit natin ay ‘ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo’ [at] hindi ‘ang pumatay nang dahil sa ‘yo’,” Villegas added.
The Church is always open to help the hope-seeking drug pushers and to the families of the EJK victims, said Villegas.
“Kung totoong drug users kayo, tama na at magbago. May pag-asa pa. May bukas pa. Maganda ang bukas. Naghihintay ang Diyos sa bawat drug users,” he said.
“[A]ng simbahan ay handang umalalay sa inyong [P]aghihilom [mula sa] iyong [pagka]ulila sa EJK,” he added.
Villegas also urged the politicians to do away with the “destructive politics” and be reminded of the importance of “dialogue, civility, and courtesy” in serving.
“Turn to the Lord and turn away from destructive politics. [L]et politics serve the poor. [L]et civility and courtesy prevail over curses and lies. [L]et dialogue prevails over the many reasons for division,” he said.
Villegas reminded policemen and military forces of their main duty—protecting the country and the Filipinos while also upholding the law.
“Stop the violence and uphold the law. [C]hoose to be respected rather than feared. [C]hoose integrity not the quick fix. [S]erve your countrymen not the politicians,” he said.
The “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” mass was also the launching of the 33-day period of “national healing” for the victims of EJKs that will culminate on Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Concepcion.
The previous period of 40-day mourning and prayers of the Catholic Church culminated last Nov. 1.
A candlelight procession, led by the image of Our Lady of Fatima, immediately followed the Mass that was intended to call for an end of the government’s drug war killings.
Photo by Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz of The Spiral Journal
Prayer rally for ‘national healing’
Thousands of people including the families of the victims of EJKs, human rights advocates, and religious organizations joined the candlelight procession.
Organizers estimated around 20,000 people joined the procession but the police estimated only about 5,000 people.
People prayed the rosary while holding their placards that showed condemnation against the killings and their lighted candles symbolizing the brevity of life.
Photo by Joselle Czarina S. Dela Cruz of The Spiral Journal
“The healing begins now,” Villegas said as the procession ended at the People Power Monument.
Villegas is also the outgoing president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.