The Olupan na Laiko ed Arkdiosis na Lingayen-Dagupan has condemned extra-judicial killings under the Duterte administration and the five congressional representatives of the province for voting for the reimposition of the death penalty. Excerpts of its statement:

“Olupan na Laiko… is deeply saddened and greatly disturbed by the culture of death that has apparently pervaded our dear country. We are outraged, deeply hurt and utterly dismayed by the decision of the five congressmen from… Pangasinan to vote for (the return of capital punishment).

“Despite this atmosphere of doubt, fear, and uncertainty in this difficult period of our nation, we the laity find courage and solace in the wisdom of our Church leaders and the basic teachings of the Catholic Church.

“We are reminded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that…

“1. The life of every person comes from God;

2. The opportunity to change is never lost in every person;

3. To destroy one’s own life and the life of another is a grave sin and does evil to society;

4. Every person has a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty;

5. Any action that harms another is a grave sin;

6. The deep root of the drug problem and criminality is the poverty of the majority, the destruction of the family and the corruption in society;

7. To consent to and to keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice to it.

“We denounce in the strongest possible terms the culture of death and instead promote the culture of life. We celebrate the innate goodness in each and every Filipino and we continue to be hopeful that the mercy and love of God for His Church, His people will sustain us in this challenging and trying times.”

Holy Week telethon

Radio Veritas and Caritas Manila (CM) recently held the Alay Kapwa Telethon 2017 to raise funds for Caritas Damayan.

Donations can still be made online via https://ushare.unionbankph.com/caritas/ or by bank deposit:

Banco De Oro savings account no. 5600-45905

Bank of the Philippine Islands savings account no. 3063-5357-01

Metrobank savings account no. 175-3-17506954-3

For dollar accounts:

Bank of the Philippine Islands savings account no. 3064-0033-55; swift code BOPIPHMM

Philippine National Bank savings account No. 10-856-660002-5; swift code PNBMPHMM

Holy Land pilgrimage

A religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Egypt and Jordan will include the following sites: Masada (Herod’s mountaintop palace and fortress); Mt. Olives, Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane, etc.) and Galilee (Chapel of Flagellation; the Church of Holy Sepulcher; Mt. of Beatitudes; Capharnaum, Cana, Mt. Tabor and Church of the Transfiguration.

Call 0918-9021826; e-mail [email protected]