CAGAYAN DE ORO City, Jan. 4, 2011—Hundreds of Roman Catholic church leaders all over the southern Philippines recently reaffirmed their commitment to protect the integrity of creation in Mindanao as a key issue in the promotion of peace in the island.
Two hundred and thirteen delegates to the 14th Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference held at the Holy Cross Academy in Digos City, reaffirmed in a statement their seven-fold commitment to reverse the effect of the threats to Life and Peace in Mindanao.
These seven-fold commitment are: (1) protect the integrity of the Mother Earth, the Visible Sign of Divine Order and Wisdom as well as the Life in the Mother’s Womb which is the Sign Center and Foundation of God’s Creation and to safeguard the Sacredness of marriage and Family Life; (2) strengthen our dedication and formation of our families, communities, parishes and Local Churches based on the Word of God and the Christian Faith centered on the Holy Eucharist; (3) pursue the formation of Christian Environmental Conscience, Intergenerational Justice and the Promotion of the Culture of Peace as well as to pursue the paths of the New Evangelization using solid catechesis for the care of the Earth and for the creation of Peaceful Environment; (4) undertake concrete measures like Environmental Education and peace Campaigns in all Churches, BECs, Parish Groups, Catholic Schools and Colleges, as well as conduct activities such as tree planting, adopt-a-forest program, setting up of nurseries in all Catholic Facilities and on Church Lands wherever possible; (5) conduct information and education campaigns to the faithful regarding the Alternative Mining Act (AMB), now filed in Congress and is known as National Management of Resources and Stewardship Bill, as alternative to the present Philippine Mining Act of 1995; (6) strengthen the interfaith and inter-religious dialogue for the cause of Integrity of Creation and Peace; and (7) continue dialogue and cooperation with civil society, government and the basic sectors for authentic human Development and peace as well as to uphold the rule of law at all levels.
The delegates, composed of archbishops, bishops, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful from twenty-one (21) Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions in Mindanao said they “have reflected on and rediscovered the importance of the Word of God in addressing issues and concerns affecting the Environment and Peace.”
“Moved by the goodness and Creative Power of the Word of God we have seen the immensity of our Mission as Local Churches in Mindanao. We are challenged to follow the paths toward the New Evangelization which would transform our context,” they said in the statement, which was signed by Bishop Guillermo D. Afable, D.D., of the Diocese of Digos.
The delegates also condemned in the strongest terms (1) all activities which threaten and devastate Creation: The non-sustainable and irresponsible mining activities particularly open-pit mining, logging activities which denude our forests, toxic agricultural practices, destructive fishing, and all activities contributory to climate change and global warming; (2) any and all forms of aggression against the lives, cultures and livelihood of the Indigenous Communities as well as anomalous encroachments into their ancestral domains; (3) all activities of violence, hatred, vengeance and bloodshed perpetrated by individuals, groups and institutions even as a means of correcting what maybe is wrong; and (4) everything and every act which harms, endangers, destroys and kills life; extra-judicial liquidations, terrorism, drug pushing; artificial contraception, sterilization and abortion; thus everything and every act which prevents the conception and birth of human life.
“We, therefore, condemn in the strongest terms every sin which creates disorder, disrupts peace and harmony in individuals and the society at large,” they said.
The delegates said that “Mindanao is a beautiful land which we love so rich in natural resources the home of good and beautiful people endowed with rich and diversified cultures.”
“But it is also the land damaged by violence, aggression and selfishness,” they said, adding that these all contribute to situations of unpeace in some localities in Mindanao.
“We know that the situations of unpeace are often land-based, and so geographically localized. They are all related to mal-distribution, usurpation, monopoly, misuse and abuse of resources. The corruption of economic and political powers, the distortion of moral and spiritual values, the materialistic culture of amassing wealth for vested interests have very high environmental and social costs,” they added.
Although the situation in Mindanao looks bleak, the delegates see many signs of hope—“a good number of conscientious individuals, groups, and institutions are working untiringly for the Protection of Creation as well as for the Promotion of Peace” whose ranks are “increasing everyday. Many have dedicated their lives for the Call toward the Culture of Peace and Christian Environmental Stewardship.”
The 14th MSPC, held last October 18-2, 2010 at the Holy Cross Academy in Digos City, brought together clergy and religious from the Mindanao region to share on their faith experiences in the light of the word of God.
It was also aimed at reliving the paths towards renewed essential evangelization to regain the lawful dignity of human life in the midst of God’s creation.
With the theme “Word of God in Mindanao, Creation and Peace,” the 14th MSPC was also aimed at helping each arch/diocese, prelature and vicariate create and prepare plans of pastoral actions in harmony with the collective efforts for the resolution of Mindanao problems in agreement with the mission of the Church in Mindanao. (Bong D. Fabe)
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