CATHOLIC Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo sent a letter to all bishops in the country requesting them for prayers and Holy Masses to reach a “peaceful and non-violent solution to the situation in Myanmar.”
Lagdameo said Filipinos can easily empathize with the Burmese people because of the Philippines’ own experience of repressive rule during Martial Law regime.
“Having ourselves experienced what it is to be under Martial Rule and participated in the peaceful restoration of our democracy, we can understand as well as sympathize with the monks, people and bishops of Myanmar,” said Lagdameo.
Earlier, FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences) Secretary General and Cotabato archbishop Orlando Quevedo, OMI sent a letter of solidarity to Most Rev. Paul Zinghtung Grawng, President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) assuring him that member Episcopal Conferences have been urged to offer prayers and holy masses to avoid further violence to take place.
“We pray that the problems in your beloved country would be resolved through peaceful dialogue for the sake of the common good,” Quevedo said.
CBCM issued a statement on September 26 saying the Church has been praying for peace and development, and urging people to also offer prayers and sacrifices. The statement further stated that “priests and religious are not involved in any party-politics, and in the current protests,” but Catholics “are free to act as they deem fit.”
Demonstrations led by Buddhists’ monks have been escalating in downtown Yangon and other places since last month against rising inflation, corruption and continued suppression of democracy.
Myanmar has been under military rule for more than 45 years.
International condemnation poured forth as military government violently clamped down on protests that led to arrests and deaths of thousand of demonstrators.
Latest reports said hundred of monks have been executed and bodies dumped in the jungle.
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