Seminary students in Manila hold a prayer rally Feb. 22 to express concern over the spate of drug-related killings in the Philippines and to call for the resumption of peace talks with communist rebels. (Photo by Angie de Silva)
Students from various Catholic seminaries in Manila lit candles at a prayer rally on Feb. 22 to express concern over issues "wounding" the Philippines.
Among the issues raised by the students and members of several religious congregations were drug related killings and the recent collapse of peace talks between the government and communist rebels.
More than 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers have allegedly died at the hands of policemen and vigilante groups seven months after the government launched a 'war' against illegal drugs.
The seminarians lit candles and offered prayers in an activity they called an "evening of prayer for peace, justice, and integrity of creation."
"It is our prophetic and patriotic duty, both as Filipinos and church people, to rise up and raise our voice together with the people," the seminarians said in a statement.
"The light of peace and justice may seem to have dimmed, but we will not allow it to be extinguished," it added.
"Respect for life and the pursuit of peace are both imperatives of the Gospel and the aspirations of the nation," student spokesman, Angelo Araja, said
The students prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together and lit the candles to dramatize their mourning for those killed and their call for the resumption of peace negotiations.
They called on other seminaries and religious formation houses around the country to also hold similar activities.