 |
| Bishop Gabriel Reyes. (Photo: CBCPMedia) |
Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes said there is a
need for “more lay people to stand for life,
and to be champions of the poor, the weak, and the innocent.”
Reyes, who is also the chairman of Episcopal
Commission on Family and Life has endorsed the various activities Pro-Life
Philippines is organizing for the entire month of February.
He urged the laity to actively promote the Gospel
of life and love in every sphere of society.
“We are waging a spiritual war, and our laity should stand at the forefront
of our temporal realities that help build the spiritual kingdom of God -
frontlines like politics, mass and social media, commerce, and public service
should be filled with holy and knowledgeable Catholics in order for the
Gospel to be spread to everyone and every place and institution,” he said.
“The defense of our deeply held values of life, family, and marriage is a
worthwhile reason for us Catholics to step up and make our presence felt,” the
bishop continued.
Already in its 27th year, activities
during the Pro-Life month include talks, seminars and other programs “that are
geared towards educating and training especially the lay to actively
participate in the pro-life cause.” This
year’s observance has the theme, “Year of the Laity, Year of Life: Hand in Hand
towards a Pro-Life Nation”.
Reyes urged the laity to exert every effort “to keep the culture of death
away from our nation.”
Quoting Pope Francis, he said, "A population that does not take care
of the elderly and of children and the young has no future, because it abuses
both its memory and its promise."
On February 2, a Eucharistic celebration will be held at the San Agustin
Church in Intramuros at 10 am to mark Pro-Life Sunday.
The observance of February as pro-life month stemmed from a Proclamation
No. 214, of then President Corazon Aquino, declaring the second week of
February 1988 and every year thereafter as “Respect and Care for Life Week”.
No comments:
Post a Comment