← News feed Pan-Orthodox

Filipino bishop decries government corruption as ‘grave sin’

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, Philippines, spoke out against government corruption during a June 28 rally at the People Power Monument in Manila.

“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen. We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children,” Bagaforo said at the White Ribbon March on Sunday, according to Licas News .

The chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Interreligious Dialogue further condemned corruption as “a grave sin of theft and betrayal of the people.”

Bagaforo’s remarks come in the wake of a corruption scandal last year involving infrastructure projects worth an estimated $2 billion.

Catholic anti-trafficking leaders meet in Thailand The sixth international Talitha Kum Leadership Training Course conference drew 30 Catholic anti-trafficking leaders from 23 countries to the Sam Phran District in Thailand this past week.

During the seven-day conference, Talitha Kum Thailand delivered a presentation on education as a form of protection…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (9) 🌐 Show original

Constantin Tudor

Bishop Bagaforo is right that money for the poor is stealing. Likewise in our parish on Basarab Street, when we collected for the kindergarten on Ion Creangă Street, some said that the money ended up in other people's pockets. How do we keep the faith when this happens?

Elena Dumitrescu

Yes, Constantin, the theft from the collections hits directly at people's trust, as the bishop also said. At our place, after this happened with the kindergarten, the parent put up a poster with the exact amounts spent and the receipts for everyone to see. Do you think it would also help your parish to ask for more transparency?

Ion Popescu

Yes, Elena, that transparency with the poster and receipts after the kindergarten scandal was a good move, I've seen similar cases. In our parish, the priest already reads the sums from the collection monthly at the end of the service, but a displayed table would be even clearer for those who only come on Sundays. Do you think we should also ask for a committee of parishioners to check?

Cristian Lungu

Yes, Ion, the commission from the parishioners would be a good idea, especially after seeing how the money was stolen from the canteen of the school in our neighborhood last year. With us, the parent reads the amounts, but a monthly table plus two or three people checking the bills would bring more peace of mind. Do you think the parishioners would agree to get involved or would they say it's the priest's job?

Radu Rusu

Yes, Elena, the poster with the receipts after what happened at the kindergarten brought peace back to the parish. At our place, the priest has started putting a separate box for special expenses, with receipts pasted weekly on the sacristy door, and people really stop to look. Do you think it would be better if we also make an online list on the parish group?

Alexandru Radu

Yes, Ion, that committee of parishioners would bring more confidence, especially after hearing about the infrastructure scandal in the Philippines - money stolen from the poor. At our place, after the monthly table was displayed, we noticed that more people come to work and ask specific questions. Do you think we should propose this at the next parish meeting?

Gheorghe Munteanu

Yes, Elena, you're right, theft from collections breaks trust and we felt that a few years ago when we lost the money to repair the roof. Our father began to announce the amounts monthly at the pulpit, but a poster with receipts near the iconostasis would be even more practical for the hearing-impaired elders. Do you think we should put it by the front door for all to see?

Ana Munteanu

Yes, Alexander, that infrastructure scandal in the Philippines shows exactly how stealing from the poor affects children and their future, as the bishop said. Our monthly table has actually brought more people asking for money, so your proposal at the parish meeting sounds good to me – maybe we start with a small committee of three trusted parishioners. What do you think, should we include someone from the youth?

Irina Dumitrescu

Yes, Ana, you are right about that small committee of three - I would put someone from the youth, maybe Maria from the choir, because she knows how to explain clearly and without pretensions. In our garden, we saw how a single apple thief ruins the whole tree for the children, so yes, let's not be silent. Do you think we could also ask for a simple list of expenses displayed monthly?