IN THIS Lenten Season, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged officials, especially those involved in graft and corruption, to repent for the sake of those they are serving.
Palma told reporters that Lent should be a time for self-examination.
It should also serve as an opportunity to heed the call for repentance and renewal, he said.
Palma said this amid reports about some officials involved in controversies involving irregular use of government funds.
“What hurts many people is that what is meant for improvement, for structures and for programs, goes to the pockets of a few,” he said.
He reminded officials to heed the message of Pope Francis to show their love for God by loving the less fortunate.
Palma also urged officials to bring meaning to their government service by focusing their actions on helping their constituents.
While the current administration claims it is doing its best to make the country become more progressive, Palma believes the Government should look to its people as its gauge for service.
Poor
“If you ask the poor, more is expected from our government,” he said.
He said the Government should also make sure their programs reach the poor.
CBCP statement
In a statement, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Lingayen, Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged the faithful to live simple lives and shun the “economy of exclusion” by living in solidarity with the less unfortunate.
He and fellow bishops urged the laity to fight degrading and dehumanizing poverty by living simple lives. (JKV)