Interfaith Syncretism Masquerading as Catholic Unity
VaticanNews portal (February 11, 2026) reports that “Bishop” Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, chairman of the Commission on Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has framed the coincidental alignment of Ash Wednesday and Ramadan as a “shared sacred moment” for Muslims and Christians. The article claims this convergence offers a “rare opportunity” to “walk together toward God, who is ‘Merciful and Compassionate,'” while quoting the Quran (10:25) alongside Matthew 5:9. The “bishop” further invokes Bergoglio’s Fratelli Tutti to advocate for “human fraternity,” environmentalism, and collective social action through the syncretic Filipino practice of Alay Kapwa (Lentern Offering).
