CBCP: Manila bishop not defying IATF rules, just expressing religious right

MANILA, Philippines — Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Manila archdiocese, is only expressing his religious right and not defying government rules when he instructed that the Archdiocese of Manila will hold religious services with 10 percent of its churches’ capacity starting Wednesday, March 24.

This was the sentiment of an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Wednesday, saying that Pabillo is not encouraging people to go to Church.

CBCP Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said Church officials met with Pabillo on Tuesday night where he explained that he was only expressing a religious right seeing that people may need spiritual activities and spiritual sustenance during the Holy Week.

“He’s not defying government authorities. It’s just an expression of a religious right. Nakikita kasi na this Holy Week people may be needing spiritual activities, spiritual sustenance,” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

People will be welcome to go to churches but they are not encouraged to do so especially with the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Secillano said.

“‘Yung tao ay welcome sa simbahan pero hindi naman ine-encourage na pumunta sa simbahan. Kung talagang ‘yung need ng tao ay pumunta ng simbahan, si Bishop na nagbigay ng limit,” he said.

“Ang sinabi niya, people may be needing the church at this part juncture kaya dapat handa rin tayo,” he added.

Secillano said the Church will still push through with its liturgies during the Holy Week, and there is a possibility they may allow people to go to Church should they wish to do so.

“Hindi naman namin ine-encourage na pumasok ang mga tao; however, kapag halimbawa may taong kumatok, isa, dalawa, tatlo, ay hindi naman namin pwedeng sabihin sa kanila na ‘hindi kayo pwedeng pumasok,’” he said.

“There is a possibility na pwede silang i-allow, anyway tatlo lang naman siguro yan o apat,” he added.

Churches will also find a way to put up monitors outside so that people can still attend Masses during Holy Week without violating quarantine protocols.

The IATF prohibited religious gatherings under the implementation of general community quarantine in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, and Cavite from March 22 to April 4. 

JE