CBCP Pastoral Letter Calls for Justice, Peace, Accountability

By Juliane Judilla

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called for justice, peace, and political accountability in a new pastoral letter released on July 8, 2025.

Issued following its 130th Plenary Assembly, the letter—signed by CBCP President Pablo Virgilio S. Cardinal David, D.D., bishop of Kalookan—reaffirmed the Church’s role as a moral guide in times of national and global crisis.

The bishops urged reflection and collective action on urgent issues such as the war in Gaza, labor injustices, and the delayed constitutional impeachment process of the Philippine vice president.

Quoting Micah 6:8—“…the LORD requires of you: to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God”—the CBCP urged the faithful to embody Christian values in confronting today’s moral and political challenges.

Cry for Peace in Gaza

The bishops condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, particularly the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

They called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

“War spares no one, and there is no victory in war,” the letter stated, emphasizing the suffering of innocent civilians.

The CBCP urged a long-term, justice-based resolution grounded in “our shared humanity, transcending race, religion, and politics.”

Stand With Workers

The bishops expressed deep concern over the plight of Filipino workers who struggle to support their families on existing wages.

“We recognize that justice begins at home,” the letter stated, acknowledging that Church institutions must model fair wages and dignified working conditions.

The CBCP called for open, sustained dialogue among employers, employees, and the government to achieve “mutually acceptable solutions on just wages and security of tenure.”

This aligns with long-standing Catholic teachings on the dignity of labor.

The bishops also addressed the delay in the constitutional process for the impeachment of the vice president.

While taking no position on the case’s merits, the CBCP emphasized that impeachment, if pursued with integrity, is a legitimate tool for transparency and accountability.

“We call our faithful to combat moral indifference, listen to all sides with openness, and foster a culture of engaged citizenship rooted in our Christian faith,” the bishops said.

The CBCP urged clergy, laity, laborers, and political leaders to work together in building a just and peaceful society.

They framed the call within the context of the ongoing Jubilee Year, describing it as a moment to enkindle hope, strengthen solidarity, and pursue truth, justice, and human dignity.