By Leslie Ann Aquino
Let us not be silent.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said this in his homily in a Mass at Quiapo Church, Monday, where murdered Catholic priests were remembered such as Father Richmond Nilo of the Diocese of Cabanatuan.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
(CBCP NEWS / ROY LAGARDE / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
He said if people will speak out against all the killings and all the wrongs in the country then their message will be heard by everyone.
"If we all speak out our voices will reverberate, it will be heard in the whole country that it is wrong to kill, enough of the lies, enough of the bad words, that the quo warranto is illegal, that we are against cha-cha, stop the extrajudicial killings, that we should not give the Philippines to China," said Pabillo.
"People are asking why is the church silent? They dont expect the church people to have guns but they expect us bishops, priests, nuns, and lay groups to speak out," he added.
In his homily, the prelate scored President Duterte for using the country's leaders for his own purpose.
"He is using the Lower House to push for death penalty, impeachment, cutting the budget of those who disobey him, in pushing for charter change, and the fake promise of federalism," said Pabillo.
Even the justices in the Supreme Court are also being used by Duterte citing the issues on the burial of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, upholding martial law in mindanao and the ouster of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
"The law is being used-to have a sense of legality in whatever he does," Pabillo said.
Amid the killings and wrongdoings, the prelate asked the faithful not to resort to revenge
"Let us not take revenge. Let us not use the weapons being used by oppresors. Let us face evil but not in their way," Pabillo said.
He added: if we use the weapon of evil, even if we win we still lose because we became evil as well.
"What will be our weapon? Guns? No! Words! Words of God," said Pabillo.
Another weapon, he said is to pray for those who persecute you.
"Our prayers are not enough. Let us increase it," Pabillo said.
"We will only drive away the evil spirit in Malacanang through prayer with faith. We will show our faith in our prayer if we will accompany it with penance and fasting," he added.
"Let us not be silent. Let us fight by praying with penitence. Let us start now with this Mass," said Pabillo.