Bishop: No church, state separation in Covid fight

By Paulo DS. Papa

Caceres Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona on Saturday, May 15 stressed the importance of cooperation between the government and the Catholic Church in Bicol region in terms of encouraging the faithful to be inoculated by any available Covid-19 vaccines.

To recall, Tirona received his first shot of Sinovac vaccine at the Jesse M. Robredo (JMR) Coliseum on Wednesday, May 12. The vaccines came from the Department of Health (DOH) and distributed to local government units.

In an interview, Tirona said that there is no separation of church and state in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The church and the government should work together because every person’s life matter.

“Walang kinalaman ang church and state. Ibang usapan yun. Ngayon wala dapat church at state. Dapat tulongan,” he said.

Before the bishop’s first shot, some 10 diocesan priests in Camarines Sur who serve as hospital chaplains and conduct the sacrament of anointing the sick were vaccinated earlier.

Bishop Jose Rojas Jr., of the Diocese of Libmanan is also scheduled to be inoculated soon.