The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) dubbed as “grossly unfair” the government’s decision to ban religious gatherings in the national capital in the next two weeks.
“It is grossly unfair that without due consultation with the churches, religious gatherings during this holy season for Christians are prohibited,” read the NCCP statement on Wednesday, March 24.
Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, NCCP general secretary, said he “fully share(s) the sentiments of my brother bishops from the Roman Catholic Church.”
On Wednesday, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, stood by his decision to hold religious services despite a government ban on mass gatherings.
The prelate said it is “not a defiance” of government restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic but “an affirmation of our right to worship.”
“In these anxious times, more than the strict, unjust, and inconsistent imposition of orders, the spiritual succor that the churches bring are much needed by the people,” said Bishop Marigza.
He said churches and the religious services they provide, help people by “providing spiritual support system, morale-boosting, help in reducing psychological stress and promote good mental health.”
On Sunday, March 21, the government ordered the prohibition of public gatherings during the imposition of strict general community quarantine in the capital and nearby provinces to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease.
COVID-19 active cases in the country breached the 91,000-mark on Wednesday as health authorities detected 6,666 additional SARS-CoV-2 infections.
According to the Department of Health, the nationwide tally of COVID-19 cases now stands at 684,311, including the 91,754 patients who are currently sick with the respiratory disease.
The number of recovered patients, meanwhile, reached 579,518 after 1,072 new coronavirus-positive individuals survived the ailment. But 47 new fatalities pushed the death toll to 13,039.
DOH said the 91,754 active cases represent 13.4 percent of the total case count while recoveries and deaths were 84.7 percent and 1.91 percent, respectively.
DOH also said that 97.8 percent of the sum active patients were mild and asymptomatic.
Source: Licas Philippines
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