THE Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro denied ever holding a special high mass every afternoon at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral, specifically for former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's health and immediate release from the International Criminal Court.
In his pastoral letter, released yesterday, March 19, Archbishop Jose Cabantan said the recent report from a media outlet that claimed that the Cathedral is holding a special daily mass is incorrect.
"The 5:30 pm mass at the Cathedral, like all Eucharistic celebrations, is open to all and for all," Cabantan's letter reads in part.
He added that the holy mass is a sacred act of worship where the faithful gather to lift up their personal and communal intentions to God and it is never exclusive to any one person, group, or political cause. As he cited the Bible verse “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)"
He also clarifies that the placards with pro-Duterte messages displayed outside the Cathedral were placed by certain individuals or groups who attended the mass to pray for their intentions.
"While the church welcomes all to bring their prayers before God, it remains committed to its mission of universality and neutrality, ensuring that places of worship remain spaces of faith, reflection, and unity," Cabantan's statement reads.
As pastors, he added, he reminded the faithful of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro of their Christian duty to pray for peace, unity, and justice.
"The church remains a mother to all, embracing everyone with pastoral care, without taking sides in political conflicts," he said.
Cabantan urged the faithful to seek truth and to reject misinformation that sows discord.
"This Lent, let us renew our hearts, set aside hostility, and commit to prayer and works of mercy for our nation’s good," said Cabantan.
