MANILA -- The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday urged the faithful to refrain from giving money to priests or any person offering to bless the tombs of their departed loved ones on All Saints' and All Souls' days.
“Kung gusto nila magdasal, salamat at nagdadasal sila (para) sa patay ninyo, bigyan ninyo na lang ng pagkain (If they want to offer prayers, it's good that they want to pray for your departed loved ones. You can just give them food,” Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said in an interview.
Pabillo, who is also Manila Auxiliary bishop, noted that the faithful can just avail of prayers for the dead in some churches.
“Sa ibang simbahan, ngayon meron sila pinagbibili o pinamimigay na mga dasal na maari n’yong dalhin sa sementeryo at dasalin, pwede rin naman ang nga tao magdala ng holy water, sila na magdasal at magwisik ng holy water (In some churches, some prayer pamphlets are given or sold which they can bring to cemeteries. They can also bring their own holy water to be sprinkled on the tombs after praying),” he added.
Pabillo, meanwhile, stressed that they cannot stop those who are presenting themselves as priests.
“Ang masasabi lang natin sa mga Katoliko, huwag na natin i-entertain ‘yung mga ganun (What we can just advise Catholics is do not entertain those people),” he added.
During the annual "Undas" holiday, Catholic Filipinos visit their departed loved ones in cemeteries and columbaria. (PNA)
