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Detained Senator Leila De Lima on Saturday strikes at Manila
Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle for being ‘silent’ on the kiIlings of three
priests in the last six months.
Among the slain priests are Fr. Richmond Nilo kiIled on June
10, 2018, Fr. Mark Ventura on April 28, 2018 and Fr. Marcelito Paez on December
4, 2017.
De Lima said that Church leaders should take immediate
action and exert more efforts to condemn the alleged spate kiIlings of priests.
“Where are the words of wisdom from the highest ranking
official (Tagle) of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines?” she said.
De Lima added that the Church “could not have chosen the
worst time to become silent and passive.”
“Why is the Church so silent that it seems they have turned
their backs, not just [on]their mission, their people, but also [on]their
own—the priests who have died protecting and guiding their flock?” she said.
“For a predominantly Catholic country, there seems to be a
growing sentiment among the people I have spoken to that the Roman Catholic
Church is slowly allowing itself to fall into irrelevancy,” the detained
senator added.
“Save for a few bishops, priests and nuns, where are the
Church leaders who ought to be the first to stand [up]and give an answer?” De Lima
said.
“Why are they silent in the face of those who speak
maliciously of God, and the call for good behavior?” she added.
“when they deem their ranks and their beliefs are under
attack, the leadership makes their voices heard, and defends their Church,
their own, their followers and, most important, their faith.” De Lima noted.*
“But these days, it seems that the Church, as an organization,
has fallen silent,” she said.
De Lima questioned why the Church has no words to guide the
Filipinos and defend “against blasphemous words that take the name of God for
granted?”
“Words that defend those who defend the faith and its
people. Words that are not just meant to guide the Filipino people toward a
stronger faith, and away from morally ruinous mentalities and actions, but to
condemn recent events that seem to make religious leaders fair game for killing
sprees,” the senator said.
“Our people are dying. Priests who defend the people are
dying. The President, instead of promising to bring justice to those who are
slaughtering his people, is vilifying the victims,” she added.
On June 12, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle highlighted
and condemned the kiIling of Catholic priests.
On a statement, Tagle said; "Wala nang pinipili:
sanggol, kabataan, magulang, lola, pulis, sundalo at pari,"
"Huwad ang kalayaan kapag pinaglalaruan ang katarungan.
Inuulit po natin: taliwas sa kalooban ng Diyos ang pagyurak sa buhay." He added.
Tagle also called on the government to look into proliferation of firearms in the country.
"Baka kailangan suriin ang mga batas at patakaran
hinggil sa paggawa, pagbebenta, pagbili at pagmamay-ari ng baril. Huwag nawang
dumating ang araw na mas madali pang bumili ng baril kaysa bigas," he added.
Source: Manila Times
