Bishop voices alarm over ‘escalating’ mining activities in Homonhon

BISHOP Crispin Varquez Borongan has raised alarm over what he described as “escalated” mining operations in the historic island of Homonhon of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar province.

The bishop issued a statement Tuesday, saying they are “very much disturbed” by what is happening in the island, where Christian faith first arrived in the Philippines 502 years ago.

At present, the diocese said there are at least four mining companies operating in Homonhon, which is known for its vast deposits of nickel and chromite.

“Their immediate and negative effects on the communities and the natural environment are very alarming,” Varquez said.

“We call on our government leaders and concerned agencies to take action on this matter,” he said.

The 20-kilometer-long island, which is known for its vast deposits of nickel and chromite, has been grappling with open-pit mining since the early 1990s.

The Diocese of Borongan has been spearheading campaigns to protect the island’s remaining biodiversity. CBCP News

Pope Francis tells ‘keyboard warriors’ to put aside online polemics to proclaim the Gospel

BISHOP Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos on Tuesday said the diocese would “fully cooperate” in the investigation into allegations that a priest raped a 17-year-old girl.

Saying that rape is a “grave crime,” he said the local Church in Negros Occidental province wants “the truth to come out and for justice to be served accordingly”.

“Together with the whole diocese, we commit to provide the needed information openly and honestly to the public without reservations,” Alminaza said in a statement March 28.

The church, according to him, will proceed with its own canonical process on the case involving Fr. Conrado Mantac, who was arrested in a village in Bacolod City on March 27.

Mantac, he said, was stripped of his priestly duties while he was being investigated by the authorities.

“For the meantime, we suspend all ministries with regard to his pastoral duties in the diocese,” Alminaza said.

The prelate then assured the alleged victim and her family of the diocese’s support and protection.

“I deeply feel the suffering of the victim and her family and entrust her to the rightful agency which can provide proper care and assistance,” he added.

The bishop asked the faithful to pray for Fr. Mantac and the alleged victim from the city of Sagay, as well to show them care.

“Please pray that the authorities, the lawyers, the guardians, and all other parties involved, including myself, will carry out our obligations in an honest and truthful manner,” he added. CBCP News

“We have seen the Lord,” were the words of the disciples to Thomas in this Sunday’s gospel. This was the message of the first proclamation of the disciples. The Lord is risen. This first proclamation is called the “kerygma” in Greek. Over and over again this message would be repeated by the witnesses to the Resurrection. Because of this, the disciples would rather undergo persecutions, trials, even death rather that change their story. For the next three hundred years, the small group of Christians kept repeating the story that eventually converted the Roman empire in the time of Emperor Constantine and Queen Helena hismother.

Kerygma

Reflections

The story was hard to believe. Even a disciple like Thomas was at first not convinced, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hands into his side, I will not believe” (Jn. 20:25). When Jesus appeared a second time to the disciples, He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. Only then did Thomas believe saying, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus then said the words that would apply to all believers throughout the ages, “Blessed are those have not seen and have believed” (Jn. 20:29). The same story is repeated by the church today and in various ways. In the Philippines, the most crowded event of the three-day celebration of the passion, death, and resurrection would be the dramatization of the “salubong,” or the meeting of Jesus and Mary his mother at early dawn of Easter Sunday. One could really feel the joy of Easter with the cute children acting the part of angels singing “Alleluia” and removing the black veil of Mary. This popular celebration comes after the more formal liturgy of the Easter vigil the night before. The more formal liturgy and the popular devotion affirm the truth, “Christ is risen.”

Because of the resurrection, the disciples who shared the same story became a community as described in the first reading, “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Such was their communal bond that “they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s needs” (Acts 2:45). Faith brought them to proclamation and action. So much so that in the letter of Peter in the second reading, he would exhort them, “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy” (1 Pt.1:9).

Today, we the disciples of Jesus continue to tell the story. The same story is told by St. Faustina, the missionary of the Divine Mercy. Her vision of the Resurrected Jesus who appeared to Thomas with the wounds on His hands and feet and the white and red rays from the wound of His side has become a familiar image in many homes and churches. The Lord who out of mercy appeared to Thomas, reminds us that God is rich in mercy (dives in misericordia). Today we also celebrate this great feast of the Divine Mercy. We continue to tell the story of the resurrection. God in His mercy saved us from sin and brought eternal life. Like the early proclaimers of the “kerygma” no matter what happens we courageously and joyfully share the story of Jesus. “Christ is risen,” Alleluia. Happy Easter to all.

Daily Scripture

Readings

2nd Sunday of Easter

Acts 2.42-47; 1 Peter 1.3-9; John 20.19-31

Readings: no. 267, p. 513 or no. 551A, p. 656

1st Reading: Acts 4.23-31

Gospel: John 3.1-8

Readings: no. 268, p. 515

1st Reading: Acts 4.32-37

Gospel: John 3.7b-15

Readings: no. 269, p. 517

1st Reading: Acts 5.17-26

Gospel: John 3.16-21

Readings: no. 270, p. 519

1st Reading: Acts 5.27-33

Gospel: John 3.31-36

Readings: no. 271, p. 521

1st Reading: Acts 5.34-42

Gospel: John 6.1-15

Readings: no. 272, p. 524

1st Reading: Acts 6.1-7

Gospel: John 6.16-21