“OUR LOYALTY must be to our country and its democratic principles, not to persons, and certainly not to other self-serving motivations.”
Thus, Manila archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula reminded the faithful in his Nov. 15 pastoral statement “A Call for Vigilance, Sobriety and Discernment” amid the swirl of socio-political events currently besetting the nation.
‘We must always adhere to the rule of law and resist any calls for extraconstitutional means to solve our problems,” he stressed.
The Manila prelate particularly appealed to the military and police to “stay faithful to your oath to the flag and our country and not to any particular personality. Your fidelity to the Constitution is vital for the stability and integrity of our republic.”
Warning that “the virus of lies and disinformation … can paralyze our capacity to recognize truth and goodness,” the cardinal enjoined the public of “their Christian duty to verify the information we consume and to refrain from sharing what has not been verified.”
“Let truth be our standard,” Advincula said.
The cardinal called for a “profound spiritual response,” not just pragmatic solutions, to what he described as a “deep moral and spiritual crisis” facing the nation.
“I plead with everyone to examine our consciences, reform our lives, and live according to God’s will,” he said. “This calls for a personal and institutional conversion so that integrity, accountability, truth, and justice may prevail.”
Advincula also urged the nation to “embark on a Pilgrimage of Hope” seeking national renewal and collective action against societal ills. “We join the rest of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines in the call for a sustained supplication for mercy and renewal through prayer and concrete action for the common good.”
“Let us pray for our beloved Philippines for integrity to prevail, truth to be revealed, and justice to be served,” the cardinal’s statement concluded.
