Father Soc calls for ‘sobriety with vigilance’ amid political chaos
LINGAYEN-DAGUPAN Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in his Lenten message read in Mass in all churches in the archdiocese on March 16, called for unity, sobriety, and reflection amid what he referred to as a “constant state of crisis” in the country and the deepening divisions created by political chaos in the country.
Referring to the unprecedented arrest of a former Philippine president by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Villegas lamented the heightened divisions it has brought to an already fragmented country.
In a poignant pastoral letter delivered on the Second Sunday of Lent, the Catholic leader reminded Filipinos that while the nation faces numerous challenges — from ethnic and political divisions to economic disparities — these differences could also be harnessed for good.
He called on his flock to reject division, emphasizing that “it is not the will of God for us to be divided” and that the forces of evil are actively sowing discord in society and pressed for the urgent need for “sobriety with vigilance,” urging Filipinos to be discerning in their sources of information, particularly in a period where misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information are rampant.
He emphasized the necessity of grounding conversations and actions in truth, particularly in the face of “polluted wells” of fake news and divisive rhetoric.
While the archbishop appealed for compassion, urging Filipinos to remember the victims of the brutal drug war, whose suffering “continues to cry to heaven for vengeance,” he warned against the dangerous mindset of celebrating the downfall of others, urging instead for unity rooted in justice and empathy.
In his call for a “new patriotism,” Villegas reminded the faithful that Lent is a time for personal reflection and self-critique and encouraged Filipinos to take responsibility for the current state of the nation and to embrace a faith-driven patriotism that transcends partisan politics.
The letter left a powerful reminder that in the midst of political noise and division, Filipinos should ask, “Where is Jesus in the Philippines?” (Eva Visperas)
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