CBCP slams ABS-CBN’s ‘No Race No Religion’ Pope Francis Shirts

ABS-CBN doesn’t have intention to mislead or deceive people with the Pope Francis commemorative shirts that it is selling ahead of the pontiff’s visit in the country, Rappler reported.

ABS-CBN spokesman Bong Osorio defended TV Network in a statement saying “There was “no intent to deceive or mislead the public through the commemorative shirts that carry statements inspired by Pope Francis’ message of love, openness, and humility,”

‘MISLEADING.’ The CBCP urged the public not to ‘patronize items with misleading posts and statements.’ Photo from The ABS-CBN Store

Kapamilya Network has sold shirts both online and retail stores in line with the arrival of Pope Francis in January.

“ABS-CBN assures the public that there was no intent to deceive or mislead the public through the commemorative shirt that carry statements inspired by Pope Francis’ message of love, openness, and humility,” Osorio said.

“We apologize if a particular statement shirt offended anyone. We are pulling out the item from our online shop and all retail partner stores,” Osorio added.

BEWARE! @frsocvillegas CBCP President @frsocvillegas' statement on ABSCBN's misleading T-Shirts pic.twitter.com/pEUi3lgW29

— Papal Visit 2015 (@papalvisitph) December 29, 2014

In a statement on Monday, December 29, CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas criticized a t-shirt bearing the quote: “No Race, No Religion. I embrace diversity.”

“While the words in the shirt attempt to convey the openness of the Holy Father, the [phrase] ‘NO RACE NO RELIGION’ [is] definitely misleading and quite frankly, erroneous,” Villegas said.