“Oratio Imperata” to continue

CEBU, Philippines — The Oratio Imperata or obligatory prayer to end killings in Cebu will still be continued this year in all the parishes under the Cebu diocese, said Archbishop Jose Palma.

The Archdiocese of Cebu has issued the Oratio Imperata to end the killings last August 2018 in the hope of ending the extra-judicial killings happening in the country, including Cebu.

Palma said they would continue with the prayer because not all those who died from a violent death the previous years already got the justice they deserved.

He added that the Oratio Imperata would still be prayed after the communion, in the hope of ending the senseless killings in the province.

Palma, however, noticed and admitted the decrease in the number of killings in Cebu, particularly in the last quarter of 2019.

The local church leader said that the development is a manifestation of the change of character of those who are responsible in the series of killings in the province.

Meanwhile, Commission on the Laity Chairperson Fe Mantuhac-Barino said they support the extension of the Oratio Imperata in the churches since there are a lot of victims who are yet to get justice.

Barino added that God has answered the prayers of the faithful, since the number of killings in Cebu has decreased.  GAN (FREEMAN)