Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Ash Wednesday exhorted the Catholic faithful to repent not only for their commission of sinful acts, but for their silence on social issues.
Pabillo reminded the faithful to seek forgiveness for things that they should have done but failed to do, or the sins of omission.
鈥淥ne of the greatest sins of omission we commit as Filipinos is when we neglect our country, we do not protect or watch over it,鈥� he said in his homily at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros, Manila.
鈥榃e just keep mum鈥�
鈥淚t seems okay for us that there are corrupt people. It seems okay for us if there are killings all around us, we鈥檙e not involved anyway. It seems okay for us when people curse, we don鈥檛 do it anyway,鈥� he added.
鈥淲e just keep mum; we don鈥檛 do anything, that鈥檚 why we became the laughingstock of other countries.鈥�
Lent, a season of fasting, reflection and prayer, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday. From then on until Easter Sunday, the church celebrates the Easter Triduum of Christ鈥檚 passion, death, burial and resurrection. Holy Week is the season鈥檚 high point.
Pabillo said Filipinos should be sorry for their silence on issues, such as the extrajudicial killings, besetting a Christian nation like the Philippines.
Leaders curse
鈥淲e thought you鈥檙e a Christian nation? Why is there a lot of extrajudicial killings? Why are human rights not given importance? Why do you let your leaders curse? Nobody鈥檚 talking, nobody鈥檚 opposing it, that鈥檚 why they continue doing what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� he said.
The prelate said it was the Filipinos鈥� social responsibility to speak out against these issues. 鈥淭hat is one of the things we should be sorry for especially in this time of Lent,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e being disrespected in their proposed Charter change. You know what鈥檚 proposed there? That they鈥檒l stay in power, that pork barrel will be institutionalized, and limitations to foreign ownership will be lifted 鈥︹�� he said, referring to proadministration lawmakers鈥� push to amend the 1987 Constitution to pave the way for a federal system of government.
It is only logical, Pabillo said, for Filipinos to know and get involved in social issues 鈥渂ecause we can only speak if we know the issues.鈥�
鈥楧on鈥檛 pretend to be clean鈥�
Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at a new relocation site for urban poor families in Barangay Santulan, Malabon City, also dwelt on the meaning of ash in his homily.
鈥淒o not pretend to be clean, God knows us very well. That鈥檚 the meaning of putting ash on our forehead,鈥� he said.