Faithful join nationwide Call for Truth and Integrity

by Prof. Francisco C. Bitagon

Amidst religious diversity, members of various Christian denominations in the province participated in the Mass for Truth and Integrity at the St. William Cathedral, Laoag City last March 7, 2008. The said mass, which kicked-off the ecumenical rally initiated by the Church Leaders Ecumenical Forum –Ilocos Norte (CLEF-IN), was officiated by Most Rev. Sergio L. Utleg, DD, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Dioces of Laoag and the Roman Catholic Diocese Clergy concelebrated in the said mass.

The participants who waved banners condemning surmounting corruption in government marched to the Iglesia Filipina Independent Church.

At the Iglesia Filipina Independiente Church, an ecumenical service was conducted. The opening prayer was led by Rev. Esther Padre, Conference Minister, United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP), after which different representatives of the Christian denominations read the Scriptures. The reading of the Statements/ Manifestos was done in the following order: first was that of the Roman Catholic Church, followed by the UCCP, The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CMHR) and the Jesus is Lord Movement (JILM). Intermission numbers were rendered by the CMHR, the UCCP and the student groups. The statement of the different sectors expressed a common appeal for the truth to come, out so that integrity be restored.

The closing prayer and benediction was given by Bishop Rosario Acoba of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. The ecumenical service came as an after-math of the rallies conducted in Metro Manila and in keeping with the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines Pastoral statement of seeking the truth and integrity in connection with the corrupt practices of the present administration particularly the ZTE NBN deal.