Bishop hits hoax text messages, appeals for prayers for disaster victims

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra has called on the public to stop causing fear by spreading rumors and hoax text messages about radiation fallout from Japan and instead offer prayers for the quake and tsunami victims.

“We ask those who are spreading rumors and false warnings to stop this malicious action that only aggravates the situation and do not help at all,” Navarra said on Monday.

He said the Diocese of Bacolod has joined the call of Pope Benedict XVI for prayers for the people of Japan “as we condole with the families of the victims of this calamity.”

“In this season of Lent let us offer to God our sacrifices for the Japanese people that they will have the courage and strength to overcome their grief and suffering,” Navarra added.

“We hope that with their national resiliency and discipline they will be able to rebuild what had been destroyed and rebound with a renewed sense of brotherhood with the rest of humanity who at this hour of sadness have come together in a common bond with them,” Navarra said.