A pastoral letter from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) dated September 12 began by lamenting the untimely deaths of Kian de los Santos, 17; Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19; and Reynaldo de Guzman, 14.
“Kian, Carl, Reynaldo…they were young boys, enjoying life, loving sons of parents who doted on them. Now an entire nation knows them by name because their lives have been snuffed out so cruelly, their dreams and aspirations forever consigned to the sad realm of what could have been but never will be,” the letter opens.
The CBCP went on to mourn the increasing number of people who have met their end at the very hands of those who have sworn “to serve and protect” them.
It argued that these names and faces should not be treated mere statistics for to “reduce them to numbers in an increasing tally is to heap yet more injustice than has already been visited on them.”
In line with this, the CBCP enjoined the nation to partake in a 40-day campaign against extra-judicial killings (EJKs) and other national issues wielding a weapon that for them is most effective: prayer.
“We invite you to offer prayers particularly for those killed in the government’s campaign against drugs, as well as for all victims of violence and the war in Marawi, in our country for a 40-day period, starting September 23 and ending on November 1,” the CBCP invited.
Those who wish to participate must offer their daily rosary for the killed and receive Holy Communion as offertory for their souls.
“May the souls of the killed find rest. Prayer heals us. Prayer helps their souls,” the CBCP added.
While many people found the pastoral exhortation inspiring, it was also met with criticism from other religious individuals.
Pastor Ramil Corpuz, senior pastor of Santa Mesa, Manila-based Sola Scriptura Christian Church, for instance, called out “unbiblical doctrines” that were purportedly included in CBCP’s letter.
Citing Hebrews 9:27, Corpuz said it was incorrect to ask people to pray for the dead, as God’s judgment has already been apportioned to them, thus, ensuring there’s no more hope of salvation for the dead.
“Praying the rosary and receiving communion for the dead are worthless. No amount of sacrifice or prayers of the living can save them. They are unprofitable work of religion. Salvation is not merited by performing any religious duty,” Corpuz said in a statement received by the BusinessMirror on Thursday.
The CBCP also wished for church bells to sound in behalf and in remembrance of those who cannot speak up anymore.
“Subject to the approval of the diocesan bishops, we appeal for the pealing of church bells at 8 p.m. during the same 40-day period in remembrance of the souls of those killed. The ancient pious tradition of De Profundis is worth restoring. Let the bells call us to pray for the dead,” the CBCP’s letter read.
Corpuz found fault in this, too, going so far as to say that calling for the dead is necromancy, and is not unlike pagan traditions involving witch craft and sorcery.
“Pealing of bells, or De Profundis, is a worthless church practice. The Holy Spirit, through the preaching of God’s Words, is the One who calls the sinners to repentance not earthly instruments,” Corpuz explained.
He also criticized CBCP’s calls for candle lighting in homes, cemeteries and spots where lawless violence have happened.
For Corpuz, this is another useless practice that the Roman Catholics have always practiced.
“[Candle lighting] in any place cannot truly soothe the grieving hearts of those who don’t know God. The hearts of sinners are restless until they find God. Even if justice is served, the heart of the unregenerate can’t find peace and joy,” Corpuz said.
Instead of enjoining the faithful to participate in various symbolic practices, Corpuz said the Church must simply encourage the people “to open and read their dusty Bible and find for themselves the truths that can truly soothe their aching hearts.”
Sarah Megan Lacata, 21, a close friend of Arnaiz, also disagrees with CBCP’s pastoral letter, albeit being thankful for it.
She believes it will only give satisfaction to self-righteous citizens without actually doing anything to attain justice.
“If you elected this government and continue to support EJKs to this day, you cannot simply receive communion, light a few candles and go on with your lives. You should feel guilty, as there are blood on your hands,” Licata said in a phone interview with the BusinessMirror on Thursday. To her point, CBCP actually agrees.
“We mourn. The nation must beat its breast in a collective admission of guilt for in our silence and in our inaction, in our diffidence and in our hesitation lie our complicity in their deaths!” it said.
The government, led by President Duterte, has already claimed responsibility for over 3,500 deaths resulting from “legimate police operations.”
Various advocacy groups, however, continue to contest this number, saying the death toll is actually closer to 13,000.
Image credits: Vincent Go/CBCPNews