Friday, February 28, 2020

Bishop: Communist ideology not compatible with Christian faith

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 26, 2020): Bishop: Communist ideology not compatible with Christian faith (By 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Phil. Army)


BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, Feb. 26 – “Espousing the communist ideology is not compatible with Christian faith.”

This was the statement of Most Rev. Cosme Damian R. Almedilla, D.D., Bishop of Butuan, during a courtesy call of Brigadier General Lincoln Francisco T. Tagle, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Special Forces Regiment Commander, held recently at the Bishop’s House at St. Peter Seminary, Ampayon, Butuan City.

Bishop Almedilla bared that based on theology, communism is an atheistic ideology and in its sense, is anti-religious. He stressed that the communists in the country have been using religion or Christian faith's credibility not really for faith, but as a material and front to gain more sympathizers.

Meanwhile, BGen. Lincoln Francisco T. Tagle emphasized that the Church and other religious groups should also be protected from the deceptive tactics of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) who are taking undue advantage on the kind-heartedness of our religious leaders.

The 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead” Battalion, the unit that covers the area of conflict-affected IP Communities of from Lianga to the Southern part of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, sought an advice to the Bishop on the proper approaches to promote reconciliation to end insurgency.

“We really need to have a unified partnership with the religious sector because they are the subject matter experts in promoting reconciliation which can help induce more peaceful surrenders in the future,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joey B. Baybayan, 3SFBn commanding officer.

Moreover, the Army was alarmed through the revelations of former rebels that some religious groups in Lianga were the ones backing the alleged CNT-affiliated militant and anti-government group, the Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa mga Sumusunod (MAPASU) to request the Surigao Province to stop the Community Support Program and the implementation of Executive Order No. 70 to End Local Communist Armed Conflict in the area.

Bishop Almedilla reminded the diocesan and missionary religious groups on the teachings of the Lord on reconciliation to attain genuine peace and encouraged them to focus on ministering faith and not an ideology.

“We need a new expression of solidarity and the poor and this should not be related to the communist ideology,“ the bishop exclaimed. (1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, CMO officer, 3SFBn/PIA-Agusan del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1034426

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