“We must obey God rather than man.”
Archdiocese of Manila apostolic administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo issued this reminder Sunday, Oct. 18, to those in government, police, and military.
“Their loyalty should be with God and not to any political or military leader,” he said in his homily during a mass in Manila.
“If what is being done or what they are being asked to do is against the law of God, they should serve and be afraid of is God,” added Pabillo.
“They should not gamble their soul to any leader who is but human. These leaders shall pass. Only God will remain and all of us will be answerable to Him,” he said.
Pabillo stressed that we should love God above all.
In his homily, he also spoke of the separation of Church and State, which is always being invoked by some people to prevent the church from speaking out against injustices in the society.
“Let us not believe in the manipulation being used whenever the church speaks out against anomalies and abuses, that we should be silent because of the separation of Church and State. There is no such prohibition,” Pabillo said.
“We will not be silenced because it is the duty of the church to speak and act for truth, justice, peace, and love,” he added.
The prelate said a Christian should speak out against any oppression, saying not doing so means they are siding with the oppressor.
“If you also know that something is untrue and you didn’t say anything, you allow that lie to spread,” said Pabillo.
He added: “There is no neutral ground in front of injustice, oppression, and lies.”