Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo emphasized solidarity as a response to persecutions during the Red Wednesday campaign in the University in commemoration of persecuted Christians worldwide.
“[W]e cannot do much, but we don’t keep silent. And part of that solidarity is shown by the celebration of Red Wednesday. We show our solidarity by our prayers. Prayers for those who are persecuted—that they may remain strong, that they may persevere…” Pabillo said during the Red Wednesday mass at the Santísimo Rosario Parish Church.
People have different ways of reacting on persecutions, and according to him, there are those who would fight violently, those who would collaborate with the prosecutors, and those who just keep silent.
“Our reaction to the persecutions is not collaboration, is not fighting against, is not indifference, but solidarity. Solidarity is shown by our prayers for the persecuted, for ourselves, … for the persecutors,” Pabillo said.
Apathy, he stressed, is a common response among majority of the Christians.
“Apathy. Indifference…They don’t react when our priests are killed, when our bishops and our priests and nuns are being dragged into court, accused with cases. They don’t react. Apathetic,” he said.
Pabillo explained that persecution has been happening since Ancient Christianity in many countries, and it includes not only killings but also destruction of places of worship, lawsuits against Christians, and denigration of the Church’s teachings.
“[T]he teachings of the Church are being maligned, even in the Philippines. Our teaching about the treaty, about the bible, is being maligned…Our teachings against divorce, against abortion, and it some countries, against death penalty—they are being maligned. These are also part of persecutions,” he said.
“And even in our times, in the Philippines, there are people who clap their hands when the President malign our Church leaders and our Church teachings,” Pabillo added.
Despite the problems such as contradicting beliefs, he maintains that persecution is not the answer.
“We still ourselves in front of these persecutions that can also come our way. At the same time, during Red Wednesday, we pray for the persecutors. We pray for the persecutors that they may realize that persecution is not the answer to their problems. Death is not the answer…Persecution is not the answer.”
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