More people allowed in some churches
More people allowed in some churches.....»»
Tunnel warfare
When Marawi residents were finally allowed to check on their houses about seven months after the dust of battle had settled, they saw holes in the walls and tunnels underneath. This was in the so-called “most affected areas” or ground zero, which experienced the heaviest and most devastating bombardment in the 2017 Marawi siege. Initially, the residents did not know the significance of the holes and tunnels. Later, they learned that it was to facilitate the movement of the rebels from one building to another without being exposed on the roads that were being monitored using satellites and drones, courtesy of foreign countries. They could evade the modern penetrating binoculars and sophisticated war weapons that honed in on body heat. Tunnel or subterranean warfare is a feature of modern urban wars that we saw in the Vietnam war, the Syrian civil war, and the campaigns against the terrorist ISIS and similar groups. We are seeing it now in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the Marawi war, the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group took advantage of the labyrinth of sewers and canals that crisscrossed buildings underground. This could have been the reason for the protracted fighting, which brought government forces aided by modern technology and intelligence provided by countries like the United States five months to quell even if the rebels were clearly outnumbered and outgunned. In the basement of the Bato Ali Mosque, which was used as a temporary shelter cum headquarters of the rebels, there was a covered canal going down towards the Dansalan area where the wet market or padian was situated and where the other rebel forces were holding out. It was in this area that sniper bullets killed rebel leaders Omar Maute and Istilon Hapilon before dawn on 16 October 2017. The current war in the Middle East will not be a walk in the park for the Israeli forces. How do we deal with the network of tunnels that were dug before the wars between Israel and the Arabs that are now being used by Hamas? There are more than a thousand subterranean tunnels in Gaza alone. They connect to the countries surrounding Gaza. They were initially used by smugglers of illegal drugs and by human traffickers. They are now referred to as “terror tunnels.” They were dug so deep that even the most destructive bombs of Israel cannot destroy them. The Palestinians built tunnels beneath hospitals, schools, churches and mosques, which are not likely to be bombed. They were used to pull off the surprise attack on Israel on 7 October. The Middle East is full of these ancient tunnels and underground cavities because they were easy to construct under the desert sand and served as shelters from the sun’s scorching heat. The hostages taken by Hamas are likely being held in these tunnels, making it doubly hard for Israeli forces to find them. The other thing going for Hamas is its familiarity with the terrain. They could plant bombs and mines in the strategic entrances and exits to Gaza, or they could hide in the remaining buildings and rain down Molotov bombs on the invading tanks (Are Molotov bombs still effective against modern tanks? We saw unexploded Molotov bombs in our house in Marawi when we visited it for the first time). The siege of Gaza will not be a blitzkrieg — it will be protracted and hard-fought because of these mines. Meanwhile, world pressure is on Israel and the US to respect the United Nations’ rules of engagement and avoid hitting non-combatants, women, and children. NATO, in fact, has called for “proportionality” when Israel attacks Gaza. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com. The post Tunnel warfare appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding!
The claims of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Vatican that Pope Pius XII had officially decreed that the Mediatrix apparitions were of “no supernatural character or origin” is not exactly true. If it is proven not true, the Papal “decree” is not binding and the faithful are allowed not to follow the decree, based on Canon Law. The CBCP released Circular 23-04 dated 14 July 2023 — quoting the official Dicastery document Protocol 226/1949 — stating that “in 1951, the Dicastery, the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy See, after due examination of the documents made available, declared the alleged apparitions in Lipa (of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace) to have no supernatural character or origin, a decision directly approved by Pope Pius XII.” There has been no document in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, that said that Pope Pius XII had indeed approved the decree. It was never formalized into an official “promulgation,” which is a requirement of Canon Law, to be binding. In other words, the Dicastery Decree is official, but not the Papal Decree. Protocol 226/1949, authored by the Dicastery, did not clarify that the Pope Pius XII Decree had not yet been official and binding in a formal promulgation. Then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos said, in his decree of 12 April 1951, that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa, contradicting Protocol 226/1949 that said a decision had been made. I, therefore, challenge the CBCP and the current Dicastery to produce documentary evidence that there was indeed an existing official Papal Decree of Pope Pius XII in fulfillment of the Canon Law ruling. The decree of Pope Pius XII is important because it was the basis for the recent order of Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera to suppress Mediatrix activities in all churches in Lipa. “Vatican directs CBCP to cease 75th celebration of Lipa apparition” (CNN Philippines 28 July 2023). The CNN article reported that the Vatican reaffirmed its 1951 decree, precisely the questionable Pope Pius XII decree. Only the Pope has the authority to confirm and declare a Marian apparition. If the 1951 Pope Pius decree is now in question, so also are all the recent bans and suppressions of Mediatrix activities in Lipa. The added sentence reads, “The Confraternity of the Mediatrix of All Grace is a movement with dozens of chapters nationwide.” Confraternity members report that a Filipino priest very close to Pope Francis approached him to forward the sentiments of the Mediatrix devotees. He said the Pope simply passed the ball to the Dicastery. And since the Dicastery is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, it was a dead end, a failed attempt. Many Confraternity members were disappointed. The Confraternity has a nationwide presence, although its membership keeps moving dynamically forward and backward. There are chapters whose memberships are strong and keep growing, but there are some whose memberships have decreased. The dynamic chapters include Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Kidapawan, Davao City, General Trias, and Jaro, to name a few. However, the Confraternity is different from the devotees. Confraternity members are essentially professionals, educated and articulate. They are well organized and subject to meetings and activities. The ordinary Mediatrix devotees are peasants, farmers, and fishermen, and are simply humble churchgoers, not so organized. But there are so many who have a strong faith and devotion to Mama Mary in their hearts. They do not even know the issues in the conflict. Their devotion is based on their hearts, not their minds. When the entire Philippine Church was held in submission by the Vatican under threat of excommunication or alienation, it was the laity that took up the cudgels, out of reach of the clutches of the Vatican and the CBCP. The Confraternity distributed hundreds of life-size Mediatrix statues nationwide. They laid the infrastructure for devotion to spread like wildfire to the sea of marginal devotees. It is estimated from Confraternity reports that Mediatrix devotees are broadly around four million nationwide. Herein lies the victory of the Virgin over the Vatican. Despite 70 long years of suppression and repression since the 1951 apparitions to this very day, Mediatrix devotion proliferates. The Vatican and the CBCP have succeeded in silencing Filipino nuns, priests, bishops, and cardinals but they are helpless against the true Marians among the masses. Even the suppressed Church prelates still believe in the silence of their hearts in the Mediatrix. Suppression has ironically strengthened the Filipino Marians. The Confraternity says it has devised a simple strategy. They will suffer and ignore the suppression without opposition, and discern the will of the Lord and Our Lady, and focus on divine messages, teachings, and pray, pray, pray, especially for the Pope, the Vatican and the CBCP. *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post 2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP to closely monitor churches
The Philippine National Police will closely monitor churches as government has allowed up to 30 percent capacity for attendees of religious activities in areas under general community quarantine like Metro Manila......»»
30% capacity for churches in GCQ areas sought
High-level recommendations will be made for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to increase to 30 percent capacity the number of people allowed at church gatherings in areas under general community quarantine......»»
What to expect in this year’s Holy Week in Cebu
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The entire island of Cebu remained under the most lenient classification of community quarantine this April. With this, devotees are allowed to go to churches, albeit in limited capacity, in observance of this year’s Holy Week, the last week of the Lenten season. However, not wanting to compromise public safety and health, the […] The post What to expect in this year’s Holy Week in Cebu appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Churches get go-ahead to allow for 10% capacity
The government finally gave in to the Catholic Church’s request to ease restrictions on religious gatherings as churches were allowed to accommodate up to 10 percent of seating capacity for a four-day period during the observance of the Holy Week from April 1 to April 4......»»
Gov’t OKs once-a-day church gatherings of 10 percent capacity for Holy Week
MANILA, Philippines — The government has allowed once-a-day religious gatherings of up to 10 percent venue capacity in churches for the coming Holy Week or from April 1 to April 4, Malacañang announced on Friday. “Pinayagan po ng inyong IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] ang once a day religious […] The post Gov’t OKs once-a-day church gatherings of 10 percent capacity for Holy Week appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
IATF to discuss increased church capacity
Members of the government’s pandemic task force are set to deliberate on the proposal to increase the allowed seating capacity in churches, Malacañang said yesterday......»»
Minors, seniors still not allowed in Basilica
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The national government may have already permitted minors and senior citizens to go outside of their homes but they will not be allowed entry at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City just yet. The Augustinian friars, who are running one of the oldest and most prominent churches in […] The post Minors, seniors still not allowed in Basilica appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
IATF rejects callfor increased capacity in churches
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has rejected calls from the Catholic Church to increase the allowed seating capacity for religious gatherings, after throngs of Black Nazarene devotees flocked to the church on Friday morning......»»
More churchgoers allowed in Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño De Cebu
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church administrators of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño De Cebu, one of the oldest and most prominent churches in the country, announced they will be increasing the number of people allowed to attend public Masses to 1,000 starting Friday, September 4, 2020. Augustinian friars running and operating the centuries-old church […] The post More churchgoers allowed in Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño De Cebu appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Church capacity: From 10 persons to 10%
The government has eased the restrictions on religious gatherings as churches were allowed to accommodate up to 10 percent of seating capacity......»»
Churches, mosques, temples can now conduct services within 10% capacity in Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Religious establishments in Cebu City may now hold services with more than 10 people present as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has heeded the request of Mayor Edgardo Labella to increase the number of people allowed to attend religious activities. The IATF has allowed up to 10 percent capacity of the […] The post Churches, mosques, temples can now conduct services within 10% capacity in Cebu City appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Churches now allowed to hold Sunday masses in Davao
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 06 August) – Churches in Davao City may now hold masses on Sundays, Mayor Sara Duterte said. During her live interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5), Duterte said the local government has lifted the ban on all religious activities on Sundays as it further eased restrictions under an extended […].....»»
More people allowed in some churches
More people allowed in some churches.....»»
Our churches will soon be full again
CHURCHES in Metro Manila, empty in the last two-and-a-half months and now allowed to have 10 percent attendance, will start to have many more worshippers – 50 percent – starting June 16. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the over-all group that has been managing the restrictions in […].....»»
Churches in Metro Manila start opening
Some Catholic churches in Metro Manila have started opening their doors to the faithful who want to hear mass, although only 10 persons are allowed inside each of the structures......»»
Barbershops, gyms, churches allowed in MGCQ
Barbershops, gyms, churches allowed in MGCQ.....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»