The country’s Catholic bishops have agreed to establish a public affairs ministry in all dioceses.
The move was made during their plenary assembly at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality in Tagaytay City from July 9 to 11.
Alongside the decision is the approval of the bishops’ conference to elevate its Permanent Committee on Public Affairs into an episcopal commission.
Established in 1982, it is currently chaired by Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista of Imus.
Its executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano welcomed the move, saying that “we can serve more and we can have different partners also coming from different archdioceses and dioceses.”
“We really have to make our social engagement very strong especially now that the church is also needed,” Secillano said.
Among the functions of the public affairs commission include the liaisoning between the CBCP and government.
It is also tasked to represent the CBCP in public hearings called by the government in matters affecting church-state relations.
Image credits: CBCP News