Death threats not surprising for priests, says bishop

Priests, particularly those faced with death threats, are called on to continue their work against "creeping vulgarity, obscenity" amid "senseless murders of the poor in the name of a false drug-free society" adding that this is not surprising, says Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

"Have you ever received a death threat as priests? Were you ever a recipient of an anonymous letter or a text message threatening you with a bullet shot for doing the work of God? Were you ever threatened with a false media expose against your good name because you stood for the truth and you stood for the Lord? Did you ever receive a threat that a religious procession will be bombed or a prayer rally will be disrupted to scare the people whom you invited from attending? Were you ever cursed for simply ringing church bells to pray for the killed?," said Villegas in his Chrism Mass homily at the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Dagupan City.

"There is nothing surprising with priests being threatened with death. We should not have accepted ordination if we were afraid to die or be killed for the Lord. It is destiny. It is fate. Guhit ng palad ng kaparian."

The prelate related that in the old Testament, Queen Jezebel threatened the prophet Elijah with death (1 Kings 19:2), prophet Jeremiah faced the same threat (Jer 26:11).

"To be threatened with violence is an opportunity of grace as the Lord admonished us “You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me," he added.

Villegas presided over the traditional Chrism Mass in which oil used for administering the sacraments of the Catholic Church, within the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese, is blessed.

In the same mass, priests within the archdiocese are present to renew their vows, reaffirm their commitment as stewards of the Gospel and servants of the people. 

Villegas said priests must be open to every opportunity to perform their duties, “for all season, priests for sunny middays and dark midnights.”

“We must confront with holy anger the more than thirty thousand senseless murders of the poor in the name of a false drug-free society,” the bishop said.

“We must exorcise the creeping culture of vulgarity, obscenity, lewd jokes and lack of good breeding, with the humble power of the Crucified Lord,” he added. -- BAP, GMA News