CBCP to bishops: Keep calm and cooperate

MANILA, Philippines — Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles has asked church leaders to take the lead in showing “calmness,” “understanding” and “cooperation” with the government regarding guidelines for the conduct of worship amid the new coronavirus disease pandemic.

The archbishop issued the statement after the government’s guidelines on the conduct of religious services triggered mixed reactions even from within the Church.

Under government guidelines, religious gatherings in places under modified enhanced community quarantine should be limited to five persons, while those under general community quarantine should have not more than 10 guests.

—Tina G. Santos