The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Church will be on top of the agenda during the biannual meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines this month.
“How did it affect the religiosity and religious observances of the people. What were the good practices, too,” said Bishop Oscar Florencio of the Military Ordinariate when asked about the issues the Church leaders will discuss.
Bishop Florencio, who is vice chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Health Care, said he expects the Church leaders to also discuss issues surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines.
“Is this the most efficient in terms of effect to the health, can it cure us or can it safeguard us,” said Bishop Florencio.
He said one of the contentious issues of the vaccines is its reported use of aborted fetuses.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of Balanga said the COVID-19 vaccine issue should be the main item in the agenda.
He said a vaccine against the new coronavirus should be accessible to all, but at the same time the government’s vaccination program should also respect “one’s freedom of choice.”
Bishop Santos said the vaccine should “never be used as a political tool to win people or to silent them.”
He said authorities “should always take into strict consideration its safety and effectiveness, and its being affordable.”
Bishop Florencio said another issue that will be discussed during the meeting is the reported atrocities committed by communist rebels and how the government is responding to it.
The Plenary Assembly of the bishops’ conference, which is the highest decision-making body of the country’s Catholic Church leaders, meets in regular session twice a year in January and in July.
The gathering, which was cancelled in July last year due to the pandemic, will be held online from January 26 to 27.
Source: Licas Philippines
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