Catholic prelates yesterday assured compliance with the government move to decrease the allowed capacity inside churches amid the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country.
Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo sees nothing wrong with the new order since it will not be for long.
“We don’t see any problem since it will only be temporary. The faithful know that. They will oblige,” the Manila auxiliary bishop added.
On the other hand, Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Permanent Committee on Public Affairs said the church will cooperate with the government in dealing with the Covid-19 situation.
“It’s all for the common good. Am sure, the church will comply. We’ve gone through this last year. If you’ll recall, there was no cancellation of (Holy Week) activities last year. We did everything closed doors as people were not allowed to go out just yet,” he added.
For his part, Rev. Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene popularly known as Quiapo Church is hoping that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will go to church for them to know that it is safe inside the church.
“We hope that they (IATF) will visit the church for them to see that it is safe inside the church… we follow and the faithful are observing safety protocols. The church is the safest place during this time,” he added.
Yesterday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases announced that religious gatherings in areas under the general community quarantine will be back to 30 percent capacity, from the current 50 percent capacity until April 4.
Also yesterday, the country recorded its highest single-day number of new Covid-19 cases at 7,103.*PNA
