Pray for rain, shorter El Niño – Tagle

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has called on the Catholic faithful to storm the heavens for more rains as the country reels from the effects of El Niño.

Tagle issued an Oratio Imperata or mandatory prayer yesterday.

“The El Niño... will intensify to a new record high. This means prolonged drought in about 46 provinces in our country causing damage to agriculture lands and critical water supply for human consumption,” Tagle said, citing the warning of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

PAGASA said the country would have lower than normal rainfall from this month until February 2016, with some areas experiencing 40 percent of normal levels. At least 65 of the  81 provinces are expected to experience drought in February, it added.

“Let us together storm the heavens with our supplications that God’s mercy be upon us and avert the disaster that a prolonged and intense El Niño threatens us,” Tagle said.

“In praying to Him for His compassion and benevolence, we also seek His forgiveness for our ecological sins—our neglect and abuse of the environment, our throw-away culture, and our failures as stewards of His creation,” he added.