Philippines Bishops Urged to Bring Church Messages Closer to People on the Margins

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), has called on bishops to ensure that the Church’s pastoral messages reach ordinary people, especially those facing poverty, vulnerability, and social challenges.

Addressing the opening of the CBCP’s 132nd Plenary Assembly on July 8 in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental, in the northern part of the island of Mindanao, Archbishop Garcera urged Church leaders to strengthen their presence among communities and respond to the daily realities of the people they serve.

“Are our pastoral statements reaching only our own ‘church choir’?” Archbishop Garcera asked, recalling a question raised by fellow bishops during a previous meeting.

He said the reflection should encourage bishops to examine whether Church statements are reaching grassroots communities and helping people understand the relevance of the Gospel in their daily lives.

“Whenever we issue pastoral statements, our desire is that they reach beyond official channels and truly touch the hearts of our people,” Archbishop Garcera said. He added that such statements should address not only political developments but also broader concerns affecting Filipino families and communities.

With the country preparing for the annual State of the Nation Address and amid continuing public debates on governance, the CBCP president said the Church has a responsibility to contribute to public life through moral guidance and pastoral accompaniment.

He emphasized that the Church’s engagement is “neither partisan nor ideological,” but rooted in the promotion of truth, justice, solidarity, the common good, and responsible citizenship.

Archbishop Garcera encouraged bishops to continue supporting civic participation guided by Gospel values and Catholic social teaching. He cited the Church’s efforts to address corruption, political dynasties, abuses of power, ecological concerns, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the protection of victims of violence.

He also highlighted initiatives led by Church leaders, including Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David’s Truth Commission, Archbishop Socrates Villegas’ governance programs, and various Church responses to national concerns such as environmental protection, the situation in the West Philippine Sea, and social justice issues.

The archbishop called attention to other challenges requiring pastoral attention, including rising cases of sexual abuse, incest and rape, mental health concerns, suicide, and declining birth rates.

More than 80 bishops from across the Philippines are attending the CBCP’s 132nd Plenary Assembly, held from July 8 to 10.

Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown attended the opening session and later presided over Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.