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Sunday, November 28, 2004
Villegas says bishop can't declare Mt. Samat a Holy ground
NEWLY installed Bataan Bishop Socrates Villegas said Saturday declaring Mount Samat in Bataan a Holy ground is beyond the domination of a clergy.
Villegas said the declaration of a Holy ground is not within the powers of the bishop, particularly if the place to be declared had already been proclaimed a national shrine.
"It's (Mount Samat) a national shrine and a public place and as a bishop I cannot declare this as a Holy ground," Villegas said in a phone interview.
Villegas explained that once a certain place was declared as a national shrine like Mt. Samat which is also known as Dambana ng Kagitingan, it is also considered a holy place especially the presence of cross that represents the faith of the Catholic devotees.
According to Villegas, the purpose of the celebration was not to declare Mt. Samat a Holy ground but to "enliven to the youth the act of heroism" that claimed the lives of many Filipinos during the World War II.
"Our country needs heroes now and what we want to imbibe and inculcate in the youth is the act of heroism," he said.
Even Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez stressed that it would be impossible to declare a national shrine as a Holy ground because there would be some conflict.
He added that while the bishops could have some authority to proclaim a certain place as Holy ground, there are still some problems that could be encountered and it may "alienate" some individuals who are not Catholics because it would indicate that Mt. Samat would be solely a Catholic place.
Mt. Samat is known to house a monument in honor of those who died during World War II. Beneath the mountain's peak is the marble monument where flags of the army infantries represented the legions of soldiers who died in the combat.
Mt. Samat cross called the Dambana ng Kagitingan measures 311 feet and stretches like a huge hand across the skies.
Villegas led some 20,000 devotees in a prayerful trek to the peak of Mt. Samat for the celebration of the National Heroes Day and the start of the advent season.
A candle lightning ceremonies and fire works display were also among the highlight of the celebration as Villegas said this is just part of their offering to God.(Marie Neri)
(November 28, 2004 issue)
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