December 22, 2011 06:45 AM
MANILA, Dec. 21, 2011— The Vatican yesterday announced that Blessed Pedro Calungsod and six others will soon be proclaimed saints.
A Vatican news release (http://www.news.va/en/news/decrees-of-the-congregation-for-the-causes-of...), said “Pope Benedict VXI received in audience, Cardinal Angelo Amato, SBD, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of decrees (for sainthood)”.
December 19, 2011 05:34 AM
MANILA, Dec. 17, 2011—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle has urged the faithful to spend the days leading to Christmas as occasions to deepen one’s prayer life and worship of God.
He called on the congregation to “recover this sense of worship [and] resting in God, for us to relish the salvation that comes to us in Jesus.”
“We are asked during these days and on Christmas Day to be a worshipping people, to pray, to rest in God,” he said in his homily during a Mass he celebrated at the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
December 19, 2011 05:32 AM
CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Dec. 18, 2011—With thousands of people huddled in evacuation centers displaced by typhoon “Sendong”, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in Northern Mindanao are appealing for relief items to be sent to the victims.
December 19, 2011 05:29 AM
MANILA, Dec. 16, 2011—Three Mindanao bishops called on the government to protect and promote the interest of the people and not of mining companies.
Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz, Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Guetierrez and Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable, in a collective statement, urged for protection of the environment and promote sustainable development.
December 13, 2011 02:36 PM
ANTIPOLO City, Dec. 13, 2011—While it voted “yes” for the Chief Magistrate’s impeachment complaint, Kabataan partylist forewarned his fellow legislators not to make the Impeachment Tribunal against Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona to be an “Aquino court.”
“The blind support of Chief Justice Renato Corona to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and by extension to the crimes of the latter against the people warrants an impeachment case on the basis of betrayal of public trust. But I stress my vote for Corona’s impeachment with a caveat against Palace machinations to establish an Aquino court,” said Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino in a statement sent to media.
December 13, 2011 02:04 AM
MANILA, Dec. 12, 2011— The job as new head of Manila’s Catholic Church started Monday for Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle who turned emotional as the crowd praised him for his appointment.
“We are grateful to the Holy Father for giving Manila the best in our own,” said Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
December 12, 2011 03:07 PM
MANILA, Dec. 12, 2011— Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle has assumed the post as the new head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church Monday.
Tagle was installed as the 32nd ordinary of the Archdiocese of Manila in a solemn ceremony held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Manila’s Intramuros district.
During the installation rite, the apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XVI was read appointing Tagle as the new Manila archbishop.
December 10, 2011 05:16 PM
MANILA, Dec. 9, 2011— An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is sounding alarm over President Benigno Aquino’s order on lawmakers to fast-track the passage reproductive health (RH) bill.
Fr. Melvin Castro of the CBCP’s Commission on Family and Life said it is unfortunate that Aquino wanted the birth control measure passed immediately, setting aside the need for more discussions among lawmakers.
December 7, 2011 01:38 AM
MANILA, Dec. 6, 2011—Catholic bishops called on President Benigno Aquino and some Supreme Court officials to end their recent war of words.
At least three bishops issued statements Tuesday to stress the need for Aquino and some SC officials to restrain comments after an unseemly public spat.
December 7, 2011 01:36 AM
MANILA, Dec. 6, 2011— For a mission that has spanned many years as documentary journalist, an Oblate missionary has been named as the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Fellowship Awardee for Journalism for 2011.
Fr. Eduardo Vasquez, Jr, was given recognition on Tuesday by the United States Embassy and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation held at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.
December 7, 2011 01:33 AM
MANILA, Dec. 5, 2011—The efforts of the local government units to reduce the plastic pollution in the country drew commendation from a group of environmental activists.
Environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has lauded the continuous efforts of local government units to address the problem of plastic waste that often clogged rivers and waterways.
Four other cities have recently joined the roster of other local government units who had already passed Ordinances regulating the use of plastic bags and polystyrene products—Bacolod, Las Pinas, Mandaluyong, Antipolo.
December 3, 2011 01:55 PM
ANTIPOLO City, Dec. 3, 2011—Migrante International and its affiliates had begun the five o’clock habit or series of vigils and protest actions as the death of the 35 year old Filipino, sentenced to death due to drug-related offense, is getting nearer.
The unidentified Filipino in death row is said to be scheduled for execution on December 8, in an undisclosed place and time. The said OFW [overseas Filipino worker] was allegedly caught with more than 4 kilos of heroin and was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of China. However, news reports said, the Filipino is still unaware that his life would be taken away on December 8.
December 3, 2011 01:53 PM
MANILA, Dec. 2, 2011— An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is seeking a resolution of cases related to the coco-levy fund scam, as he called on President Benigno Aquino III to intervene on the issue.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Aquino should show “political will” to return billions of pesos in coconut levy funds allegedly stolen from coconut farmers decades back...
December 2, 2011 02:54 PM
ANTIPOLO City, Dec. 2, 2011—It would be an injustice for the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) if the Bureau of Internal Revenue will continue its plan of imposing taxes to their Social Security System (SSS) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).
In a statement sent to media, John Leonard C. Monterona of Migrante-Middle East (ME) said most of the OFWs are paying more than the mandatory contribution to ensure that they would have enough money to loan to own a house (in case of Pag-IBIG) and for bigger monthly pension in case they can’t go back to work abroad as a contract worker.
December 2, 2011 04:52 AM
MANILA, Dec. 1, 2011— Archbishop of Cebu, Jose Palma officially assumed leadership of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Thursday.
Palma, a native of Dingle, Iloilo, becomes the 19th president of the bishops’ collegial body.
November 30, 2011 11:44 AM
MANILA, Nov. 29, 2011— An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has joined calls for the Chief Justice Renato Corona to inhibit himself from all cases involving former President Gloria Arroyo.
Fr. Edu Gariguez of the National Secretariat for Social Action said this is to remove doubts on the High Court’s impartiality in deciding cases involving Arroyo who was recently charged and arrested for electoral sabotage.
November 28, 2011 10:19 PM
MANILA, Nov. 28, 2011— A militant Catholic priest said former president Gloria Arroyo should be transferred to a regular detention facility and not be placed under house arrest.
Fr Joe Dizon, convenor of Gloria Panagutin Movement, said that although Arroyo deserves respect as a former president, she must not be accorded special treatment...
November 27, 2011 10:17 PM
SAN PABLO City, Nov. 27, 2011—A priest from the Prelature of Infanta, Quezon joined a group of coconut farmers and various farmers’ coalition in demanding the recovery of the Coco Levy Funds which rightfully belong to the poor coconut farmers.
Fr. Jojo A. Eranista, 63, who is ministering the poor tribal settlers in Quezon told this writer that he and his tribal group joined coconut farmers' march from Lucena City (Quezon) to Manila hoping that the poor coconut farmers would finally be given the (coco levy) funds for the rehabilitation of the coconut industry and improvement of the plight of the poor...
November 27, 2011 10:15 PM
BERLIN, Germany, Nov 22, 2011--The Catholic Church in Germany says it will act “without delay” to sell its stake in a publishing company that offers pornography among its products.
“We cannot earn money during the week with what we preach against on Sundays,” Cardinal Joachim Meisner told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper Nov. 22.
November 27, 2011 10:09 PM
LEGAZPI City, Nov. 25, 2011―President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III said it is the responsibility of local government units to protect their fishing grounds from commercial fishers.
This was his reaction to a letter sent by Bicol-based bishops led by the Metropolitan of Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, OP, DD two months ago calling on the Aquino administration to ban the rampant commercial fishing in municipal waters.
November 26, 2011 06:51 PM
MANILA, Nov. 25, 2011— Now that the Supreme Court has spoken, Catholic Church officials called on President Benigno Aquino III to ensure the distribution of Hacienda Luisita to the farmers and provide them with support services.
Fr. Edu Gariguez of the National Secretariat for Social Action— Justice and Peace (Nassa) said he is certain Aquino’s clan, which owns the vast sugar plantation, will make moves to block the land distribution...
November 26, 2011 06:49 PM
MANILA, Nov. 25, 2011— The movement similar to the “Occupy Wall Street” in New York City has reached the Philippines shores.
In Manila, it is convened by no less than a Catholic bishop who heads the Church’s social action arm.
November 25, 2011 01:13 AM
MANILA, Nov. 24, 2011—Two years ago since the brutal massacre of 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists, the justice that the media and religious communities, and the family of the victims of the infamous Maguindanao Massacre wanted, seemed to be elusive.
November 22, 2011 10:45 AM
MANILA, Nov. 22, 2011— Tagbilaran Bishop Leonardo Medroso is against televising the trial of former president Gloria Arroyo’s electoral sabotage case, saying that it could disrupt the proceedings.
Medroso believe that any societal benefits from broadcasting the proceedings are heavily outweighed by the significant dangers it would pose to the orderly and secure administration of justice...
November 21, 2011 10:22 PM
MANILA, Nov. 21, 2011— If only for ‘humanitarian reasons,’ a prison ministry official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines backs the idea of hospital arrest for former president Gloria Arroyo.
Rodolfo Diamante, executive secretary of the CBCP’s Commission on Prison Pastoral Care said the current jail system in the country is not fit for those who are sick.
