June 2 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS     print icon print

4-FR-CHITO

Scots urged to pray for abducted Filipino priest

Bishop John Keenan of Paisley has urged Scots Catholics to pray for a Filipino priest who was kidnapped along with 240 others by Islamist extremists.

Fr Teresito ‘Chito’ Suganob has appeared in a video pleading for help a week after his abduction by Islamic militants.

“As we freely come together to pray and worship, please keep in your prayers Fr Chito and his parishioners who were kidnapped last week,” Bishop Keenan said. “Pray for their safe return.”

In the video, Fr Chito said the terrorists were demanding the Philippine government stop its military offensive against them, or else they would execute the prisoners.

“Mr President, please consider us,” Fr Chito says. “They don’t ask for anything… they just ask that you leave this place peacefully. We are in the midst of this war. We are asking your help to please give what they are asking for.”

CBCP News, the official news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said it was unclear when the video was taken, but it does show Fr Chito amongst destroyed houses.

In the video, the priest says that the militants were ready to ‘die for their religion.’

“Mr President, you can’t use force and violence because they have the commitment they will die for this.”

Fr Chito was kidnapped last Tuesday night along with at least a dozen worshippers and church workers.

Violence erupted in Marawi last week after the military raided the hideout of Islamist commander Isnilon Hapilon. The extremists retaliated by laying siege to the city, burning buildings, raising ISIS flags, and killing at least two police officers.

The vicar general of Marawi said that along with Fr Chito there are about 240 more hostages, including women and children.

 

—This story ran in full in the June 2 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.

Leave a Reply

latest news

In photos: day one of Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland

August 25th, 2018 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Pope Francis is visiting Ireland from Saturday August 25 to...


Pope speaks of failures over abuse at start of two-day visit to Ireland

August 25th, 2018 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

Acknowledging the failures "of bishops, religious superiors, priests and others"...


Justice secretary assures Catholics over attempts to define sectarianism

August 24th, 2018 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

There will be consultation with the Catholic Church and community...


Catholic lawyer criticises Home Office rules on religious asylum

August 24th, 2018 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS

A Scottish Catholic immigration lawyer has said Home Office rules...




Social media

Latest edition

P1-AUG-24-2018

exclusively in the paper

 

  • Video games and Catholicism: how the booming medium misrepresents Faith
  • A Catholic approach to teaching gender issues
  • Dr Harry Schnitker on The European saint who came to personify peace
  • Pro-life group to appeal decision on home abortions
  • Pope writes to world’s Catholics condemning Church sexual abuse

Previous editions

Previous editions of the Scottish Catholic Observer newspaper are only available to subscribed Members. To download previous editions of the paper, please subscribe.

note: registered members only.

Read the SCO