Newly-ordained priest to fight EJK with prayers

Thirteen deacons were ordained as priests yesterday by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Of the 13, nine are from the Archdiocese of Cebu, three from the Society of the Angel of Peace (SAP), and one from Mary’s Little Children Community (MLCC).

Rev. Fr. MJ Curaraton, one of the newly ordained priests, said that one of his plans is to help address the killings in the city through prayer.

“As a member of the clergy, we should not be violent. You cannot fight fire with fire. We believe in prayers and in God’s intervention,” he said.

“Our plan is to really have the help of Christ, not to be insensitive to the killings and not to, as we say, support a culture of impunity,” Archbishop Palma said.

On the police being blamed for the killings, Palma said the people should still trust the police, as everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

He said there are people who sometimes don’t live up to their calling.

Palma said the archdiocese will not be issuing an oratio imperata as of now and instead wait for word from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

He said he hopes that different sectors will hold a dialogue and find a way for the killings to end.

As a member of the clergy, we should not be violent. You cannot fight fire with fire. We believe in prayers and in God’s intervention, REV. FR. MJ CURARATON