Seminarians asked: ‘Why be quiet when faith is being attacked?’

In the light of the recent killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo, a priest from the Diocese of Cabanatuan, a prelate called on seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary (ICMAS) here in this town to resist keeping silent, especially in a time when the faith is being attacked.

“People know how active I am when it comes in speaking for drug addicts, especially in my diocese, how they are taken for granted. Critics are being attacked and silenced whenever they speak against them. Yet why will you be quiet when your faith is being attacked?” said Kalookan Bishop and CBCP vice president Pablo Virgilio David, who gave the keynote address at the Lectio Magistralis, a lecture to the ICMAS community.

Expounding on the theme “Integrating the Essential Insights of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (RFIS): A Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Progress in Seminary Formation,” the bishop discussed the importance of integral formation among future priests as they prepare to face the challenges of the priesthood.

Mentioning the recent killings of priests, David said: “Looking into the death of priests like Fr. Richmond’s, it is true that there are now a number of priests being killed. Yet it is not something that we should be afraid of. They are not victims. They are martyrs. They show us how valuable priesthood is. It is willing to stand up amidst persecution…” A known and vocal critic of the government’s war on drugs, he stressed that a good priest is first “a good person, then be a good Christian.” “Only then can you be a good priest,” stressed David.

The annual Lectio Magistralis, which was held at Bulwagang San Lorenzo Ruiz of the ICMAS Philosophy Department, is an opening academic lecture to the ICMAS community with a resource speaker invited to delve on the values of seminary formation, especially for the development of academic excellence among seminarians.