Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos urged the faithful who will attend Mass on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day to wear white to show their commitment to peace.
“Wear white as an act of solidarity and to express our desire for and commitment to peace, sanctity of life, human dignity and human rights,” said the prelate in a Christmas message.
He said by wearing white, the Catholic faithful can show their “collective call to end the killings, [the coronavirus] pandemic, and abuse of our common home.”
Bishop Alminaza said it is “lamentable” that activists who have been tagged as “communists” have been killed in recent weeks.
He also cited the killing of a mother and child by a police officer in the province of Tarlac, north of Manila.
To help raise public awareness, Bishop Alminaza urged everyone to share their pictures as a congregation wearing white in various social media platforms using the hash tags: WearWhiteForPEACE; #StopTheKillingsPH; #DefendLifeAndRights; #SilenceKills; #Justiceforallvictims; #CareForThePoor; #CareForOurCommonHome
He said church bells in his diocese will ring everyday at 8 p.m. during the Christmas season and until the killings stop.
“The bells are intended to prick the conscience of those who move in our midst and exact evil in killing hapless civilians,” said the bishop.
“They must turn from their wicked ways,” he added.
“The bells ring as a soothing reminder to families who have been victimized that we are with them in their grief,” he added.
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines has earlier issued a statement calling for justice for “all victims of violence at the hands of those in power.”
“As one nation, may we find ourselves united in breaking the prevailing culture of violence, impunity and injustice,” read a statement from the religious group.
“We re-affirm our commitment for life and for peace,” it added.
