Six Catholic bishops demanded that all diplomatic efforts be exhausted to protect Filipinos’ rights over the West Philippine Sea, but if all else fails, they suggested turning to "allies" who can help the Philippines in defending its rights.
The joint pastoral exhortation dated Feb. 8, which was signed by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas; Iba Bishop Bartolome Santos Jr.; San Fernando, La Union Bishop Daniel Presto; Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Princesa Socrates Mesiona; Apostolic Vicar of Taytay Broderick Pabillo; and Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Fidelis Layog, was posted in advance on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website on Feb. 4.
The Church leaders said the “aggressors” have become more confident as they have kept encroaching on marine sanctuaries and zones, pushing Filipino fisherfolk off their fishing grounds.
“As shepherds of a people whose lives depend on considerable measure on the sea, the rivers and their gifts, we would like God’s People not only in our Church jurisdictions but throughout Luzon to recognize the Lord in the concern of the Church for the well-being of our poor fisherfolk,” the bishops said.
They said the issue over the West Philippine Sea is now no longer about fish and aquatic resources but about the lives, well-being, and future of one of society’s marginal but populous sectors, the fisherfolk.
“The Church stands with them, and as shepherd from various ecclesiastical jurisdictions with fisherfolk within our pastoral care, we stand with them and we bishops give voice to their fears and anxieties, their woes and their concerns,” the bishops said.
“A policy of appeasing the Chinese aggressors is worsening the situation of our poor fisherfolk. This same policy of appeasing the aggressors has also emboldened them to make tall tale claims,” they added.
Though "words are not enough," the bishops thanked the Philippine government for its declarations of "resoluteness" in defending the West Philippine Sea.
“All legal means must be exhausted so that what nature has so bountifully bestowed on us may be ours and may feed generations of Filipinos yet to be born and if present diplomatic endeavors do not suffice, then it is permissible morally necessary even to have recourse to the friendship of allies who can help us defend what is ours!” they said.
However, the Church leaders emphasized that they “seek peace” and that “it cannot be a moral option to wage war.”