Manila archdiocese ends fixed rates for sacraments

The Archdiocese of Manila has decreed on Thursday the abolition of the arancel or the system of charging fixed rates for sacraments.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator, said the new policy takes effect on April 14, as the Church marks the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

“There will no longer be any fixed rates for the celebration of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation and for the offering of Mass intentions in the churches in the Archdiocese of Manila,” Pabillo said.

Instead, the bishop said that the archdiocese will just encourage donations.

“Donations from the faithful for the support of their church are encouraged,” he said.

There are about 92 churches in the archdiocese, which also covers the parishes in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan.

In 2017, the bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila issued a pastoral letter on stewardship, ending the arancel system.

The Church this year also marks the 30th anniversary of the 2nd Plenary Council of the Philippines, which mandated the gradual abolition of the arancel system.

In January, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines also renewed this commitment in line with the quincentennial celebration.

“Let this be one of the legacies of our quincentennial celebration of the arrival of the Christian faith in our country,” Pabillo said. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.