Church leaders ask gov't to lift ban on religious gatherings

There is an increase in the number of Catholics seeking a reconsideration of the government ban on religious activities, particularly mass celebration in churches, according to a post on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Churches have been closed to discourage gatherings of a crowds as part of government efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, Bishop Broderick Pabillo said “religious services are also essential services.”

“So when the decision makers consider the essential services to be allowed, they should also consider the opening of the churches and its services as important,” he said.

“Of course, necessary precautions should be taken, like the proper social distancing and the sanitation practices to be done in the churches,” he added.

Pabillo said religion is a significant part of the lives of Filipinos especially in times of hardships, trials.

He pointed out that in time of disasters the Filipinos save religious images and bible first and begin a new llife by restoring the community chapel.

“The signs of God in their lives are very important for the people,” Pabillo said, adding that allowing public Masses “will uplift their spirits to a great extent”.

“Allowing people to go back to Church to thank the Lord, to ask for his protection and implore his help, are deemed very important by the people,” he added.

The head of the Claretian congregation, Fr. Elias Ayuban called for the reopening of churches in areas that do not have COVID-19 cases.

He said people are allowed to buy from the market where physical distancing is difficult to implement, adding that the same can be done in churches.

“I see no prevailing reason why an organized Sunday gathering in a cathedral or spacious parish church, where physical separation can easily be executed, not permitted," said Ayuban.

“It is about time to reopen the doors of our churches for people to pray. While it is true that we can pray anywhere, there is no place like the church and no celebration like the Mass,” he added.

The Council of the Laity of the Philippines asked the government to allow people to uplift their spiritual well-being, “which are both humane and essential”.

The Council is willing to submit its plans to assure authorities that religious gatherings will be done according to quarantine protocols implemented by the government.

“With strict compliance to Government Guidelines on Social Distancing and Sanitation, the lay faithful requests for Religious Gatherings to be allowed in the GCQ areas,” said Rouquel Ponte, Laiko President.

“We demand that our right to religious worship be not curtailed when the necessary safeguards are followed,” he also said. -- BAP, GMA News