Bishop Pabillo urges Philippine Church to defend marginalized

Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Taytay has called on the Philippine Church to prioritize the defense of marginalized communities over the maintenance of institutional status quo. Speaking to 233 religious superiors at the 2nd national convention of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines in Zamboanga City, Pabillo urged religious leaders to act as ‘prophets’ rather than mere managers of institutions.

Pabillo emphasized that religious communities should remain close to the poor, Indigenous peoples, migrants, and the elderly, rather than retreating into institutional security. He stated that the Church must serve as a conscience to ‘prick its complacency’ and ‘disrupt its comfort’ to remain ready for its mission.

Additionally, the bishop addressed environmental and land conflicts, specifically citing destructive mining and large-scale reclamation projects. He argued that peace is inseparable from justice and that religious leaders must confront these issues without resorting to violence. He also recognized the role of religious communities in sheltering whistleblowers and victims of previous drug war abuses.