CBCP calls for ringing of church bells on May 9

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called for the ringing of church bells on May 9 upon the opening of voting precincts at 6 a.m. for ten minutes.

CBCP President Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said "this is to remind our faithful to exercise their civic duty as citizens to vote, and to do so in the spirit of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten their consciences in their choice of new national and local leaders for our country."

“In our solidarity in prayer, we beg the Holy Spirit to drive away the evil spirits that influence desperate candidates and their supporters to engage in vote buying, fraudulent practices, threats, intimidations and acts of violence,” he said in a CBCP News post.

In a circular, David suggested to dioceses that they keep their parish churches open during the whole days of May 8 to 10, and the Blessed Sacrament exposed for adoration.

He said the faithful may also be encouraged to take turns in keeping vigil before the Blessed Sacrament, and pray the rosary, along with the Litany of Our Lady of Loreto, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Oratio Imperata for the Elections.

The communities of consecrated persons, especially the contemplatives, in their dioceses to do the same in their convent chapels, according to him.

The CBCP also asked for prayers for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its partner agencies and organizations that they will “efficiently carry out their duties” for a clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful election.

David expressed hope that the elections will be “a concrete experience of synodality for our people."

“We can only fight this battle in the best way we can—through prayer and well-discerned action,” he said.