Log Off, Look Up: Philippine Bishops Urge Filipinos to Fast From Social Media This Lent
In a pastoral letter that might make your screen-addicted fingers twitch, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is calling on the faithful to undertake a bold new Lenten discipline for 2026: digital media fasting. The letter, titled "Fasting Beyond Food: Inviting Christ into Digital Media Use," was issued on February 16 by CBCP President Bishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa. It urges Catholics to detach from excessive technology use and rediscover prayer, silence, and authentic human relationships — isang hamon na hindi madali para sa marami.
The bishops' reasoning is sharp and practical. "Excessive media use often leads to distraction, fatigue, loss of focus, weakened relationships, and diminished spiritual awareness," Garcera wrote. "Constant connectivity leaves little room for silence and reflection. Many struggle to be present to God and others because screens constantly demand attention." The letter stresses that digital media fasting is not anti-technology — rather, it invites believers to ask a deeper question: how can Christ guide our use of media?
The CBCP laid out concrete, actionable practices for the faithful to follow during the 40-day Lenten period: avoid phone use before sleep and upon waking; limit social media and streaming time; observe device-free meals and family gatherings; practice occasional 24-hour or even full-weekend digital fasts; remove distracting apps from devices; and replace screen time with prayer, Scripture reading, service, or face-to-face conversation. For a country that ranks among the world's heaviest social media users, these are not small asks.
The spiritual framework behind the initiative goes beyond mere abstinence. The bishops emphasized that fasting is not deprivation but transformation — the act of creating space for something better. By limiting digital consumption, they said, believers open time for Eucharistic devotion, works of mercy, and meaningful encounters with the people around them. "True fasting, as Jesus teaches, is not an external performance but an interior conversion," the letter stated. Among the promised fruits: deeper prayer, mental clarity, emotional peace, and improved rest.
The timing is deliberate — the pastoral letter was released just days before Ash Wednesday on February 18, which officially opened the Lenten season. Coming at a moment when Filipino society is grappling with cyberbullying, misinformation, and digital overload (recall Senator Robin Padilla's recent controversial remarks about youth and social media), the CBCP's call for a collective digital detox resonates far beyond the pews. Whether or not Filipinos can actually put their phones down for 40 days remains to be seen — pero ang paanyaya ay malinaw: log off, look up. Source: CBCPNews.net, DZRH, Aleteia, LiCAS.news, RVAsia.org
