CBCP launches advocacy for faith, unity amid COVID-19 pandemic

Church leaders on Monday urged Filipinos to hold on to their faith and make it their “primary guiding force” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a virtual interfaith gathering, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines spearheaded a new national campaign dubbed “Yakapin ang Bagong Bukas (Embrace the New Tomorrow)” which is meant to give Filipinos hope amid the health crisis.

The launch was also highlighted by the simultaneous one-minute ringing of church bells nationwide at 6 p.m. to symbolize the call for faith and unity.

In his message to the public, acting CBCP president and concurrently Bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan Pablo Virgilio David called on the public to help turn the health crisis into an opportunity by “responding together heroically” and to “rise above personal interests and transcend differences for the common good.”

“[T]he sufferings, anxieties and uncertainties that have been brought about by this crisis will have disastrous consequences on the lives of individuals, families and communities and societies all over the world,” he said.

“But we can also make this crisis an opportunity that will bring out the best in us,” he added.

David said the new advocacy was made possible through the initiative of its Commissions on Health Care, Social Communication, and Youth.

The virtual gathering, meanwhile, was part of CBCP’s ongoing dialogue with the government, private sector, and civil society groups to seek better ways to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Filipinos. — DVM, GMA News