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Catholic diocese urges prayer, public witness against proposed nuclear plant in northern Philippines.

A northern Philippine diocese has urged Catholics to gather for prayer and public witness as it reiterates its opposition to a proposed nuclear power plant in Labrador town, Pangasinan province.

Jan 02, 2026, By Mark Saludes, Herald Malaysia Online,
In a video message circulated ahead of the gathering, Fr. Ed Inacay of the Diocese of Alaminos called on residents to take part in a Holy Mass on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at 8 a.m. at St. Isidore Parish, to be presided over by Bishop Napoleon Sipalay Jr.

The priest said the Mass is linked to the Church’s discernment on the proposed nuclear facility and reflects the diocese’s opposition to the project.

“It is good that we reflect on this and pray over this plan, and I encourage you to join our bishops, especially here in our diocese, our beloved bishop, where the Diocese of Alaminos does not agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant here in our town of Labrador,” he said. 

Caritas Philippines expressed support for the Diocese of Alaminos and urged the public to “demand an energy policy that prioritizes human safety, ecological integrity, and the constitutional right to a balanced and healthy environment.”

In a video message released on Jan. 2, Caritas Philippines president Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, warned that nuclear energy “remains a perilous energy source that poses long-term risks to our communities and our ‘common home.’”…………………..

In December 2025, Catholic dioceses across the country expressed collective opposition to the proposed construction of a nuclear power plant in Western Pangasinan, citing moral responsibility, environmental risk, and the protection of life as central concerns. 

In a pastoral letter, the bishops, particularly those of the Metropolitan See of Lingayen-Dagupan, said the proposal came as communities were still recovering from Typhoon Uwan, which left the province under a state of calamity and affected more than 233,000 people.

The bishops said the Philippines’ vulnerability to earthquakes and typhoons, its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” and the lack of a secure, long-term solution for radioactive waste make nuclear facilities an “unacceptable risk,” especially in disaster-prone areas. 

They warned that nuclear energy carries “irreversible, long-term risks” that outweigh projected benefits and said radioactive waste, which remains deadly for thousands of years, would impose a burden on future generations.

Drawing from the experiences of bishops in Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the prelates said nuclear power generation is fundamentally incompatible with a vision of society that respects all life.

Echoing Pope Francis, the bishops stressed prudence, human safety, and environmental protection over immediate economic gains, urging government officials and the public to pursue renewable energy paths that safeguard communities, ecosystems, and the common good.—licas.news https://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/catholic-diocese-urges-prayer-public-witness-against-proposed-nuclear-plant-in-northern-philippines/86844/2

January 3, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Philippines, Religion and ethics