Filipino “Bishop” Promotes Naturalist Solutions While Ignoring Divine Law’s Primacy
The EWTN News portal (February 5, 2026) reports on “Bishop” Socrates Mesiona’s pastoral message regarding human trafficking in the Philippines. The article emphasizes his call for “coordinated prevention, protection, and advocacy efforts” through diocesan committees, urging collaboration between government and religious institutions. While acknowledging human trafficking as a “profound moral concern,” the message focuses on socioeconomic factors like poverty and illegal recruitment. The “bishop” demands stricter law enforcement and victim protection while encouraging parishes to engage in awareness campaigns through catechesis and youth programs. Statistics cited include 860,000 Filipinos in modern slavery conditions and half a million children trafficked for sexual exploitation materials.