The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) warned that excessive use of digital devices, such as cellphones, is weakening Filipino families.
CBCP president Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa said constant phone and gadget use has replaced meaningful conversation at home, even during meals meant to strengthen family relationships.
“Families no longer talk to one another,” Garcera said in Filipino during Mass at the Parish of the Holy Family in Luyos, Tanauan City.
He described parents watching television while children use computers and phones, leaving family members absorbed in personal devices instead of engaging in face-to-face conversation.
Garcera stressed that communication is essential to marriage and family life, saying spouses, parents, and children must continue talking to one another to maintain unity.
As the New Year approaches, he urged families to rediscover dialogue, saying conversation restores harmony and helps make families whole.
The archbishop also raised concerns about what he described as changing views of family, particularly the treatment of pets as family members.
He cited incidents in the archdiocese involving requests for blessings and special consideration for animals during church services, including cases that caused disruptions during Mass.
The Mass, attended by several clergy, also marked the closing of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope in the Archdiocese of Lipa.
