Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra PHOTO FROM www.cbcponline.net
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines–Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra is calling on Catholics in the Diocese of Bacolod to join a rally at the Bacolod public plaza on Oct. 14 seeking the abolition of the pork barrel system.
The rally would also push for the protection of human life, promotion of good governance, and the total abolition of the pork barrel fund.
In a circular, the bishop also advised all priests in the diocese to focus on the issue of the pork barrel scam in their homilies during Masses on three successive Sundays–Sept. 29, Oct. 6 and 13.
The aim of the homilies would be to educate, enlighten and awaken the faithful, he said.
“The glaring reason for the many social ills that beset our country today is the deeply embedded culture of corruption,” the bishop noted in his circular. “This is the bitter fruit of our collective indifference and permissiveness.”
According to Navarra, the controversial pork barrel system was proven to have been a “breeding ground” of corruption and patronage policies.
“As a Church, heedful of our commitment to contribute positively and actively to nation building, we take it as our own duty to uphold, protect and defend human life and dignity at all cost,” Navarra also said.
He added that just like the Reproductive Health law, the Priority Development Assistance Fund has robbed the Filipino nation of the dignity “that is rightfully ours, being sons and daughters of God.”
As a sign of commitment to God and fidelity to His people, Navarra urged all Catholic institutions, organizations, associations, parishioners and concerned sectors to join the Oct. 14 rally.
“This is just the beginning of a series of calls we shall be making as a diocese,” he said.
The rally will start with a march at 1 p.m. from the Capitol Lagoon Park, Lupit Church and West Negros University in Bacolod City, he said.
Invited to speak at the Oct. 14 rally are lawyer Romulo Macalintal and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace.