New CBCP head urges Catholic bishops to give flock hope
The country's Catholic bishops convened a three-day plenary meeting Saturday with a reminder from their new president to bring hope to a nation plagued with problems.
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said Church leaders must bring hope to Filipinos amid recent calamities, social problems and political chaos.
"As bishops, we are to give people a reason for living and hoping. It is not a wishful thinking but a well-grounded hope when we expect of blessings and good things to come," Palma said in his speech at the opening of the 104th CBCP plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Center in Manila.
Present in the first day of the assembly were Papal Nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Excerpts of Palma’s address were posted Saturday night on the CBCP news site.
He noted many Filipinos are now under “dark clouds and in the midst of poverty and suffering.”
Palma particularly mentioned the thousands of people who died and lost their homes in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Cities to tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi).
He also lamented the reality of graft of corruption, unemployment and unabated devastation of forests and seas which “led to poverty and related problems.”
Palma cited “obvious confrontations among the main branches of our government” which “make us wish we are not stuck up in pinning down the guilty but instead we are now marching and collaborating with each other in implementing laws and programs that bring about growth and development.”
While he did not name names, he referred to the tension between the executive and judicial branches of government amid the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Certainly we can say there are dark clouds in the sky,” said Palma.
But he also said that with "trustworthy hope," Filipinos can face the problems plaguing them.
“Given the above agenda, we know we are given hope, trustworthy hope. Hence we can face our present even if it is arduous; our present can be lived and accepted because it leads to a goal,” he said.
The CBCP said some 100 bishops will meet behind closed doors until Monday to tackle pressing concerns involving the Church and the nation.
It is the first plenary assembly presided by Palma as the new head of the CBCP. — ELR, GMA News
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said Church leaders must bring hope to Filipinos amid recent calamities, social problems and political chaos.
"As bishops, we are to give people a reason for living and hoping. It is not a wishful thinking but a well-grounded hope when we expect of blessings and good things to come," Palma said in his speech at the opening of the 104th CBCP plenary assembly at the Pope Pius XII Center in Manila.
Present in the first day of the assembly were Papal Nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle and retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Excerpts of Palma’s address were posted Saturday night on the CBCP news site.
He noted many Filipinos are now under “dark clouds and in the midst of poverty and suffering.”
Palma particularly mentioned the thousands of people who died and lost their homes in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and Dumaguete Cities to tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi).
He also lamented the reality of graft of corruption, unemployment and unabated devastation of forests and seas which “led to poverty and related problems.”
Palma cited “obvious confrontations among the main branches of our government” which “make us wish we are not stuck up in pinning down the guilty but instead we are now marching and collaborating with each other in implementing laws and programs that bring about growth and development.”
While he did not name names, he referred to the tension between the executive and judicial branches of government amid the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Certainly we can say there are dark clouds in the sky,” said Palma.
But he also said that with "trustworthy hope," Filipinos can face the problems plaguing them.
“Given the above agenda, we know we are given hope, trustworthy hope. Hence we can face our present even if it is arduous; our present can be lived and accepted because it leads to a goal,” he said.
The CBCP said some 100 bishops will meet behind closed doors until Monday to tackle pressing concerns involving the Church and the nation.
It is the first plenary assembly presided by Palma as the new head of the CBCP. — ELR, GMA News
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