Tagle launches rehab program, says addiction ‘a spiritual concern’

0
1922

Oct. 24 2016, 8:49 a.m. – MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called for “restorative justice” through spiritual guidance to help rehabilitate drug users and pushers, rejecting the spate of summary killings in the country.

At the launch of “Sanlakbay Para sa Pagbabagong Buhay,” the Archdiocese of Manila’s rehabilitation program, Tagle said drug addiction is a spiritual concern that should be addressed through healing and restoration.

“Ang tugon ay hindi dapat panghuhusga, kung hindi pagtulong,” Tagle said in his homily at the Manila Cathedral last Oct. 23.

Tagle called on the faithful to believe in due process of law, saying extrajudicial killings do not solve the drug menace.

“Kapag ang katarungan ay naipanumbalik, [this leads to] healing, and not to destruction. Buuin nating muli ang ating lipunan through justice and humility,” he said.

Tagle told drug dependents who joined the event to “surrender fully to the Lord” as they submit to rehabilitation.

The drug dependents had turned themselves in to police amid the “Oplan Tokhang” campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in which cops knock on the doors of drug suspects and ask them to surrender.

“Hangga’t hindi nakaka-surrender sa Diyos, walang tunay na surrender,” Tagle said.

Also present at the launch were Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, San Roque Parish Priest Fr. Antonio Navarrete, Interior Undersecretary John Castriciones, and Supt. Godfrey Convento of the PNP Community Relations Group.

“Sanlakbay” is a joint project of the Archdiocese of Manila, Caritas Manila-Restorative Justice Ministry, and Center for Family Ministries, in partnership with the UST Psychotrauma Clinic, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

It seeks to provide healing, rehabilitation, and restoration through spiritual guidance, livelihood and sports training programs.

LEAVE A REPLY

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.