Priests in the Philippines Want Guns to Protect Themselves

Philippine Pres.Rodrigo Duterte is hostile to the Catholic Church. Reuters

By Staff Writer

Christian Today

Priests in the Philippines are applying for gun carry permits in record numbers after three of them were murdered during the last six months.

According a national news report last week, applications have been received from nearly 250 religious workers including 188 Catholic priests, Crux reported.

The priest who died most recently was shot inside a chapel in the north of the country as he was preparing to say mass. Fr Richmond Nilo was killed by two unidentified gunmen who fired through a window four times.

Before him, on April 29, Fr Mark Ventura, 37, a campaigner against unethical mining practices, was shot dead after celebrating mass in the province of Cagayan. Fr Marcelito Paez, 72, was shot dead on December 4, 2017 in Nueva Ecija province after helping secure the release of a political prisoner and dropping him off at his home.

However, Church authorities have expressed unease about the trend for priests to carry weapons. According to UCA news, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said he was 'very disappointed', and that priests who wanted to carry weapons needed 'serious counselling'.

'We don't even have to dwell on the morality of it. It is unpriestly, to say the least,' he said.

Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, president of the bishops' conference, said: 

'We are men of God, men of the church, and it is part of our ministry to face dangers, to face deaths if one may say that way.'

Website: Christian Today 

Nine Christians 'Shot Dead' by Islamist Militants in Philippines as Chaos Descends on City after Church Kidnappings

An armoured personnel carrier belonging to government troops drives along a main highway of Pantar town, 

Lanao Del Norte, as it travels to reinforce Marawi city, southern Philippines May 24, 2017

By James Macintyre
Christian Today

Nine Christian civilians have reportedly been shot dead after being forced off their truck and having their hands tied together by Islamist militants in Marawi city in the Philippines. According to local reports, members of the militant so-called Maute group murdered the group by a check-point after they were identified as Christian.

Harrowing local television images show the Christians lying dead face-down in the grass, amid reports that villagers are afraid to move the bodies because terrorists are still in the area. A policeman was similarly caught at a checkpoint set up by the militants and beheaded on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte said.

News of the killings come as chaos descended on the Muslim-majority Marawi city, where the Filipino army has sent in about 100 soldiers, including US military.

Thousands of citizens have fled after the Maute group torched several buildings and occupied various parts of Marawi. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has imposed martial law on Mindanao Island, which includes Marawi, in an attempt to curtail the chaos. He promised the military rule would be 'harsh'.

'I warned everybody not to force my hand into it,' Duterte said, according to The National. 'I have to do it to preserve the republic.'

Attention has also been focused on the kidnapping of a local priest and his parishioners who were taken hostage by the Maute group on Tuesday.

The president of Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines appealed for prayers for the hostages. He said: 

'Fr Chito Suganob and others were in the Cathedral of St Mary's when members of the Maute fighting group forced their way into the cathedral, taking with them Fr Chito and others as hostages. They have threatened to kill the hostages if the government forces unleashed against them are not recalled.'

 Christian News report continues

Bloggers note: Please pray for God's protection and swift release of Fr. Chito and the hostages. Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Persecution Unveiled has been called by God to prick the consciences of this nation and all free people to speak up and act on behalf of those who have no voice.  Follow us on  Pinterest, and Google; like us on Facebook, and visit our website using this link.