Church approval of aerial spraying ‘misinterpreted’

A BISHOP in the southern Philippines said reports saying a recent statement of Filipino bishops allegedly expressing approval for chemical aerial spraying was misinterpreted. Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos said the bishops “did not say aerial spraying was not harmful.” He said bishops in the province of Davao said that “at this time there was [...]

Culture, religion mix in Holy Week rites

THE marriage of culture and religion can be seen in folk practices that abound in the observance of Holy Week in the Philippines, especially in the provinces. Holy Week in the country is dramatic and colorful, more so than the Christmas season, and has many centuries-old paraliturgical practices. To experience the rich mix of folk [...]

Clergy should have right to marry, says ex-priest

A 74-YEAR-OLD former priest said the clergy should be allowed to marry and gay and women priests should be accepted by the Catholic church. Ed Gerlock spent much of his priesthood in the Philippines working with the country’s poor and farmers. It was during this time that he met a beautiful Filipino social researcher who [...]

‘Jesus of Nazareth’ a big hit

VENDORS of bootleg movies in Manila have started selling DVD movies on the life of Jesus Christ as Filipino Catholics observe Holy Week. In Manila’s downtown Santa Cruz and Quiapo districts, DVDs of the classic “Jesus of Nazareth” are being sold for P25 to P50 by mostly Muslim vendors. The movies are bootleg DVD copies [...]

Lay Catholics work for peace in Thailand

AS the thousands-strong “red-shirt” protest continues in Bangkok, a group of concerned citizens working for non-violence, many of whom are Catholics, are making themselves seen and heard. The group, which calls itself the Non-Violence Network, includes NGOs, civil society groups, lawyers and scholars. It recently held a rally at Victory Monument, a busy downtown area, [...]

Hundreds of faithfuls pray for life in Vietnam

SOME 800 Catholics and people of other faiths have for the first time attended a ceremony marking the Day of the Unborn Child and prayed for pro-life activities in Ho Chi Minh City. Five Redemptorist and Dominican priests concelebrated a special Mass attended by local Religious, Church social workers, health care givers, pregnant women and [...]

1,500 pilgrims pray on Cross Mountain

ABOUT 1,500 pilgrims took part in a Way of the Cross and Mass at a popular mountaintop shrine in Theinseik, Myanmar in the run-up toward Easter in an act of penance for their sins. The 185-meter climb to the shrine on Cross Mountain in east-central Myanmar helps Catholics reflect on Jesus´ passion. The shrine, near [...]

Youths’ Passion play moves adults to tears

CATHOLICS in a remote parish of Khulna diocese in Satkhira, Bangladesh say a recent Passion play put on by students touched them deeply and even moved some of them to tears. “For the first time in my life, I attended a ‘living way of the cross’ program,” said Jacob Mondol, 38, “The young Catholics boosted [...]

Candidates told to keep Holy Week politics-free

THE Catholic Church reminded politicians over the weekend not to use Holy Week activities to advance their campaigns. Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, spokesman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said candidates in the May 10 elections should not use the Mass or other Holy Week activities as campaign venues. Quitorio cited the practice of [...]

Church group offers politicians Holy Week forums with voters

A CHURCH-based movement is calling on candidates in the May 10 elections to take a brief break from courting votes during the Holy Week and instead join recollections not just for spiritual health but to let voters get to know them. The recollections, held as part of the Vote God campaign headed by the church-based [...]

Catholic schools revise courses

CATHOLIC schools are revising their college programs hoping to expand students’ options and beat chronic unemployment. IBON, a private research and development institution, reported that an estimated 848,000 new and old graduates may be vying for some 256,000 job openings after graduations in March and April. This year alone, some 542,000 students will be graduating [...]

Philippines breaks ‘Earth Hour’ record

FOR the second consecutive year, the Philippines broke the Earth Hour world record in terms of participation, with 1,076 towns and cities joining the 60-minute light off to save Mother Earth Saturday night. The country was literally engulfed in darkness from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday to send a signal around the globe that [...]

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