Ban on religious gatherings violates religious freedom –Bishop Pabillo

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Tuesday criticized the ban on religious gatherings amid the firmer COVID-19 restrictions placed on Metro Manila and other areas, saying it was a violation of religious freedom.

In a statement, Pabillo said the state did not consult the church before deciding on the matter amid the upcoming Holy Week.

“So, dyan mali na sila at hindi dapat tayo sumunod sa ganiyang pamamalakad na walang konsultasyon and it somehow breaks the separation of church ang state, sila ang nagse-separate ngayon,” Pabillo said.

(This is where they are wrong and we should not follow that kind of leadership that decides on things without consultations, and it somehow breaks the separation of the church and state. They are the ones doing the separating now.)

Due to this, Pabillo later said the Archdiocese of Manila will hold religious worship at 10 percent of a church's capacity starting Wednesday, March 24.

“Let the worshipers be spread apart within our churches, using the health protocols that we have been so consistently implementing,” he said in a separate statement.

Pabillo said religious activities outside of churches such as the senakulo, pabasa, processions, motorcades, and visita iglesia will not be held.

Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal — designated as the "National Capital Region (NCR) Plus" — was placed under a stricter community quarantine from March 22 to April 4.

Meanwhile, under the stricter GCQ, weddings, baptisms, and funerals may be held but limited to only 10 people.

He also urged devotees to attend Mass but within the 10 percent limit.

“[I]ni-encourage natin pero kung sinong faithful na gustong um-attend within our limits at tayo ang maglilimit sa loob ng simbahan natin hindi sila,” he added.

(We encourage devotees who want to attend Mass but within the limits we will set. We will be the ones who will set the limit on the number of attendees within a church, not them.)

The bishop stressed that religious services were essential services.

“Dapat magsalita tayo at saka we believe religious services are essential services, they may not be essential economically but they are very essential to our well-being,” he said.

On Monday, the Philippines reported another record high of 8,019, the highest daily increase since the pandemic began, bringing the total to 671,792. — DVM, GMA News