By Evelyn Macairan (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570448&publicationSubCategoryId=63
MANILA, Philippines - Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office director Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III said they are organizing a nine-day novena for clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections.
Quitorio said they are finalizing plans to hold the novena either at the chapel inside the Archdiocese of Manila or at the Manila Cathedral.
The 12-hour novena will be held from May 3 to May 11, from noon until midnight.
“We believe that in all the social upheavals in our country, there is a role for divine intervention. So we think of holding a vigil for several hours everyday, organizing lay organizations that are near the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” Quitorio said.
They would ask bishops to participate in the novena and organize prayer vigils in their respective dioceses for the same intention.
This project is supported by CBCP president Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
“This is to ensure that the electoral processes will be carried out with total integrity, from beginning to end, and that evil designs and purposes may be prevented by the vigilance and courage of all Filipinos who cherish and defend truth, honesty, freedom and democracy,” the officials said in a statement.
Rosales has already sent copies of the novena prayer to the diocesan bishops and to the members of the Council of the Laity.
The CBCP also said it would set up monitoring centers where they could get situation reports from volunteers all over the country on election day.
In yesterday’s forum, Quitorio said that for the first time, they have taken another step to become more involved in monitoring the developments during the election.
“This is the first time that we will be doing this. We are doing this because what is at stake is very big and there is a great need for vigilance,” said Quitorio.
“We will put up the monitoring system and we would have a network of volunteers, in collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), on election day. We would organize a texting campaign throughout the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has joined the nation in praying for the success of the May 10 elections.
“We join the rest of the nation in aspiring for clean, honest and peaceful elections and in hoping that there will be no problems so serious as to result in a failure of elections that others might use to instigate public unrest,” INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo said in a pastoral letter to INC members.
“In view of this, we are instructing you not to get involved in any baseless speculations that could only cause fear and apprehension,” he said. – With Jess Diaz
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570448&publicationSubCategoryId=63
MANILA, Philippines - Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Media Office director Monsignor Pedro Quitorio III said they are organizing a nine-day novena for clean, honest, orderly and peaceful elections.
Quitorio said they are finalizing plans to hold the novena either at the chapel inside the Archdiocese of Manila or at the Manila Cathedral.
The 12-hour novena will be held from May 3 to May 11, from noon until midnight.
“We believe that in all the social upheavals in our country, there is a role for divine intervention. So we think of holding a vigil for several hours everyday, organizing lay organizations that are near the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” Quitorio said.
They would ask bishops to participate in the novena and organize prayer vigils in their respective dioceses for the same intention.
This project is supported by CBCP president Tandag, Surigao del Sur Bishop Nereo Odchimar and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.
“This is to ensure that the electoral processes will be carried out with total integrity, from beginning to end, and that evil designs and purposes may be prevented by the vigilance and courage of all Filipinos who cherish and defend truth, honesty, freedom and democracy,” the officials said in a statement.
Rosales has already sent copies of the novena prayer to the diocesan bishops and to the members of the Council of the Laity.
The CBCP also said it would set up monitoring centers where they could get situation reports from volunteers all over the country on election day.
In yesterday’s forum, Quitorio said that for the first time, they have taken another step to become more involved in monitoring the developments during the election.
“This is the first time that we will be doing this. We are doing this because what is at stake is very big and there is a great need for vigilance,” said Quitorio.
“We will put up the monitoring system and we would have a network of volunteers, in collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), on election day. We would organize a texting campaign throughout the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has joined the nation in praying for the success of the May 10 elections.
“We join the rest of the nation in aspiring for clean, honest and peaceful elections and in hoping that there will be no problems so serious as to result in a failure of elections that others might use to instigate public unrest,” INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo said in a pastoral letter to INC members.
“In view of this, we are instructing you not to get involved in any baseless speculations that could only cause fear and apprehension,” he said. – With Jess Diaz
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