Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called on the faithful to give sinners a chance, including drug addicts, and called the killing of any sinner as an “act of hopelessness and despair.”

“A person who has hope will never kill. Faith never gives up on the present, even in the face of threatening and uncertain situations. Faith never gives up even when we are not sure, that what we are expecting will happen as we want them to happen,” Tagle said over Church-run Radio Veritas.

“There is always hope for the poor, hope for the sinners. Do not give up on them. Do not give up on their lives. Every life has hope,” he emphasized.

Tagle said a good Christian gives hope to the hopeless, those who have been forgotten by society, those who were abandoned by their parents, those who are addicted to vices, the poor, and the criminals.

“Hope springs eternal. There is always that opportunity to change for the better because the center of our lives is Jesus,” Tagle said.

“I may not see what I am hoping for but I will not give up on anyone. I will not give up even on criminals. We continue to hope for people especially the youth who had been addicted to vices like drugs. We will continue hoping. Tao iyan! Buhay iyan! May pag-asa yan! Umasa ka. Manampalataya ka.’ God can do wonders,” the cardinal stressed.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also reminded the faithful that the nine-day novena masses or “Simbang Gabi” are not for granting wishes.

“Completing the nine days of ‘Simbang Gabi’ is not for their wishes to be granted. That is a wrong belief. That is not what going to the Simbang Gabi is for,” Pabillo said. He explained that the purpose of the “Simbang Gabi” is to spiritually prepare the faithful for the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, Christmas Day.

Tagle recently presided over a thanksgiving mass at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City in celebration of the 80th birth anniversary of Pope Francis.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Christina I. Hermoso and Charissa M. Luci

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