The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Monday reiterated its stand against allowing priests to carry firearms, saying it is not appropriate for those who are considered “configured to Christ.”
“A priest is a person who is configured to Christ. In the teachings of the Church, a priest acts in the person of Christ,” CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles said in a statement.
“In the midst of the Church, in the midst of society, because of the grace of priestly ordination, we are supposed to see and feel in his presence the person of Christ. And, therefore, with this configuration of a priest to Christ, it is simply not appropriate, to say the least, for a priest to carry firearms to protect himself.”
Valles said although he is aware of the dangers to the everyday lives of the clergy, including the recent killings of priests, such unfortunate incidents do not justify the move to arm them.
He also expressed sadness at the deaths of three priests in recent months.
“I am very much aware of the day-to-day dangers to our life these days, especially with the killing of three priests in recent months,” Valles said.
“Together with other reported killings, we are most disturbed and deeply saddened by the death of these priests. We have strongly condemned these killings.
“But still, to me, it does not warrant at all that priests carry firearms. That is why we give our trust and confidence to our Philippine National Police and other related peace-and- order personnel in the government.”
Valles was reacting to reports that some Catholic priests had applied for permits to carry firearms from the Philippine National Police.
“I have already stated my mind on this issue some days ago through Radio Veritas, a Manila Archdiocese-run radio station, that I disagree with such manner of action”•that a priest would carry firearms,” Valles said.
He said they will continue to pray for the authorities who are doing their best to protect the people.
“We pray for them and challenge them to do their very best in this very difficult and demanding task of protecting all of us, including priests,” Valles said.
He said he had not received a request from his priests to carry firearms.
“As the archbishop of Davao, I strongly discourage my priests, the clergy of Davao, to seek such permission from the PNP to carry firearms,” Valles said.