MYVIEWS
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front of late is attempting to drag the Catholic Church into the failed peace process following the adverse ruling of the Supreme Court on the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which the high court considered as unconstitutional.
The MILF should not fault the Catholic Church in this discord. It is not accurate and fair for the Front to accuse the Church for not coming out of a definitive stand for the fact of the matter is that in every mass celebration a prayer is said for peace in Mindanao and reconciliation and forgiveness are echoed in Catholic churches all over.
It is not also true that the Church is wishy-washy about its stand in the unresolved conflict. The fact is, the bishops in Mindanao are quite active in the pursuit for peace and they are doing this with their Ulama counterparts. But this interfaith efforts can only do so much. They have limits. And in a situation where not even the leadership of the MILF cannot even restrain the likes of Commanders Umbra Kato, Pangalian and Bravo, how do we expect the religious leaders can do to stop these marauders? The MOA on AD failed because these three pre-empted the processes by staging yet another terroristic acts that resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians, pillage and destruction of properties of marginalized communities.
Dragging the Catholic Church to the fray, like it is not doing enough to attain peace accord in Mindanao is an insidious scheme to convert the struggle of the secessionist front into a religious war. That plot will never succeed because religious freedom is exercised liberally not only in Mindanao but in the entire country.
The MILF should know that the Christian bishops and ministers are locked in arms with the Ulamas to bring peace to Mindanao. Together they represent another strong phalanx against divisiveness and atrocities of war. If only we listen to their appeals and prayers peace should not be that complicated process.
ED PALMA
Kidapawan City
Filed under: MYVIEWS, abu sayyaf, ed palma, milf, moro islamic liberation front | Tagged: bishop-ulama conference, Catholic Church, ed palma, milf
