By Robertzon F Ramirez/Manila Times
An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has urged Catholics to shelter calamity victims who are “literally homeless” this Christmas.
Father Melvin Castro, the executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said sheltering homeless Filipinos, especially victims of the natural calamities is “one of the corporal works of mercy.”
He said the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in eastern Visayas and victims of 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol were displaced literally without homes “that’s why this is our chance to let the Lord enter our homes by way of these victims of these calamities.”
On October 15, the entire central Visayas, particularly in Bohol and Cebu were affected by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake, which killed 222 individuals, injured 776 with a total of eight people still missing.
On November 8, Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged areas in eastern Visayas, killed 1,600 individuals and more than 1,000 have been missing. “As what the Lord said: ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do unto me.’ This is now the least of the brethren of the Lord the displaced, the orphaned, the widowed and the homeless because of this typhoon and other calamities like the recent earthquake,” Castro said.
He noted that the fate of these victims should not be the responsibility of the government alone, noting that everyone should also do their part in helping the victims.
“Let’s not turn a blind eye to them…let’s not just leave them to the government, we should also do our share and help,” he added.