The Catholic bishops of the Philippines have invited their faithful to join them in 4 days of prayer, penance, and almsgiving next week, to atone for those who blaspheme against God, who slander and bear false witness, and those who commit or justify murder to fight crime. Signed by CBCP president, His Grace Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the exhortation entitled, “Rejoice and be glad!” drew attention to “these troubled times” in the Philippines urging Catholics to commit themselves to peacemaking. The call came in a pastoral exhortation by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which was released at a press conference on Monday, at the end of the 117th CBCP plenary assembly in Manila.
As reported by Vatican Radio, The bishops urged their faithful to spend a day of prayer and penance on July 16, 2018, the feast of Our Lady of Carmel, “invoking God’s mercy and justice on those who have blasphemed God’s Holy Name, those who slander and bear false witness, and those who commit murder or justify murder as a means for fighting criminality in our country.” They also invited them to “three days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving from July 17 to 19, 2018.”
The exhortation does not mention anyone by name but alludes to shocking statements made by President Rodrigo Duterte on several occasions. Duterte has had a turbulent relationship with Catholic bishops, who have criticized his brutal war on drugs, his push to reinstate the death penalty and obscene language. Duterte drew heavy criticism after calling God “stupid” in a speech in Davao city in June. On another occasion on Friday, he said he would step down if anyone could prove God exists. In an answer to “those who ridicule our faith,” the bishops again cited St. Paul saying God chooses the foolish to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong.
