Manila Archdiocese calls for prayer, non-violent acts vs corruption

The Archdiocese of Manila on Monday urged the public to pray, discern, and engage in “non-violent” actions against the corruption behind the alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“One with my brother bishops in the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, I, therefore, enjoin all parishes, shrines, chaplaincies, mission stations, and religious communities to conduct prayerful reflections, circles of discernment, and concrete but peaceful and non-violent actions against corruption,” the pastoral letter signed by Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula read.

“Let us put our country and the people's interest foremost in our mind. Let us hope and pray that justice and peace may reign in our hearts, that God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our broken land,” it added.

The DPWH has filed a graft complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against 20 officials of the agency and four contractors over anomalous flood control projects.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering Council is investigating the casino activities of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials linked to anomalous flood control projects.

Moral conviction

In the same pastoral letter, Advicula described the recent rallies against corruption as the people’s “moral conviction” and an act of “rightful obligation.”

“They are not just expressions of disgust and anger directed at the perpetrators of one of the vilest scams in the history of our nation,” Advicula said.

“They are actually manifestations of the people's collective moral conviction and an exercise of their rightful obligation to suppress the proliferation of evil in our midst,” he added.

Over 200 sectoral groups and church organizations will hold twin rallies in Metro Manila on September 21, Sunday, to protest against corruption in relation to the alleged misuse of public funds.

On Saturday, several groups marched from the EDSA Shrine to the People Power Monument where they held a program denouncing corruption.

Echoing the late Pope Francis, the prelate said a Christian identity includes “social charity” or “political love,” where one is willing to offer themselves for the common good and help build and transform one’s nation.

“Ang totoong maka-Diyos ay makabayan, dahil kabayanihan ang dulot ng kabanalan; at sa totoong kabanalan, kasama ang paglilingkod para sa katarungan,” the pastoral letter read.

(A true God-fearing person is patriotic, because holiness leads to heroism and true holiness includes serving to attain justice.)

The pastoral letter was released to coincide with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, a Marian title commemorating the Virgin Mary’s profound grief and suffering as Jesus Christ’s mother. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News