CBCP urges government to exempt priests from number coding

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Catholic church asks for coding exemption
Text: Martin Aguilar
posted February 24, 2014 12:28



CBCP urges government to exempt priests from number coding image

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is pushing to exempt priests from the number coding scheme. Their justification? Their duty is also on call.

Fr. Edu Gariguez, Executive Secretary of the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action, said priests should be granted exemption from the number coding scheme because they need mobility at all times.

“We need total mobility that’s why if possible we want to be exempted from coding because the work of a priest doesn’t have a fixed time,” Gariguez said.

Gariguez said their duties to administer last rites for dying persons are usually compromised by immobility due to the number coding scheme.

“For example, there is a sick call, somebody died or somebody is in a life and death situation... we priests need to be there right away to cater to their pastoral needs,” Gariguez added.

“There will be no problem if the priest is just from the area, but if the priest is from elsewhere that might pose a problem,” Gariguez concludes.

Do you agree that priests should be exempted from the UVVRP?

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