Members of the clergy in the Diocese of Dumaguete in the central Philippines held a “penitential walk” on Monday, September 6, for the “protection of life and the environment.”
Bishop Julito Cortes led the religious procession that offered prayers for victims of extrajudicial killings in the country and the coronavirus pandemic.
The priests also offered the “penitential walk” for the scrapping of the controversial 174-hectare reclamation project in the city.
Aside from members of the clergy and the religious, several lay people joined the solemn procession.
The procession made a stop at the city’s bayside boulevard where a “Prayer for Our Earth” was recited.
In his message, Bishop Cortes reminded the faithful of the call of Pope Francis to care for the earth and each other.
“(We have become) remiss in our relationship with each other because of different forms of selfishness and corruption,” he said.
“Remiss in our relationship with the earth because of our greed,” said the bishop.
The prelate reiterated the Church’s appeal for dialogue with the city’s mayor to appeal for an end to the city’s reclamation project that would reportedly impact the environment.
