News by email Donate

Suggestions

Archbishop-Socrates-Villegas-of-Lingayen-Dagupan-main_article_image.jpg
CBCP
World News

'There's a special place in hell for killers': Filipino archbishop angered as priest murders continue

by Tola Mbakwe

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan said in a letter to members of the Church that "murders continue without relent".

He added: "God's justice be upon those who kill the Lord's anointed ones. There is a special place in hell for killers. There is a worse place for those who kill priests."

Two gunmen killed a priest as he prepared to celebrate Mass at the altar of a chapel in the north of the country on Sunday.

National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Rev Richmond Nilo

The killing is the latest deadly attack on priests in Asia's largest predominantly Catholic nation. The two men shot the Rev Richmond Nilo with pistols in the chapel in Zaragoza town in Nueva Ecija province.

Fr Tito Paez was killed in December 2017 and Fr Mark Anthony Ventura was killed in April this year.

Archbishop Socrates called for the Church to observe "day of reparation" on 18th June.

He encouraged Christians to "stand up for the Lord and courageously correct error and sin" and "work actively for social and political changes grounded in Catholic moral teachings and Christian social ethics".

18th June will also be a day of fasting and abstinence for the priests and other leaders in the Church.

Stay up to date with the latest news stories from a Christian perspective. Sign up to our daily newsletter and receive more stories like this straight to your inbox every morning.

News you can believe in. Stand with Premier Christian News today.

Your gift today ensures that Premier Christian News can press forward in strength, reaching more people with biblical truth and shaping the future of Christian thought. It’s more than just a donation—it’s an investment in renewed minds and transformed lives. 

Without continued support, the ability to create and distribute resources that strengthen faith and equip the church will be compromised. But with your help, we can grow deeper, stand firmer, and shine brighter in the culture.

Your support today is critical.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate