ASIA/PHILIPPINES - “A Reconciled family becomes agent of reconciliation” theme for “Week for Peace” in Mindanao

Friday, 4 June 2004

Manila (Fides Service) - “A Reconciled family becomes an agent of reconciliation ” is the theme of a “Week for Peace” planned for 25 November to 1 December in Mindanao, southern Philippines. The initiative comes from the Bishops-Ulama Forum whose members are Catholic and non-Catholic Bishops and Muslim Ulama teachers living in the southern Philippines.
This sixth edition of the Week for Peace will consist in a series of events, seminars, conferences, prayer meetings, awareness campaigns at all levels on the streets, in schools, at cultural centres through which Christians and Muslims together strive to demonstrate that interreligious dialogue is the way to build social harmony and peace in southern Philippines.
The central focus of the week will be the family. In a statement presenting the initiative the Forum members, including Bishop Fernando Capalla, President of the Philippines Bishops’ Conference, affirm that “the family is the basic cell of society. Many families, Christian, Muslim and others are suffering because of the situation of conflict over recent years in Mindanao. We have always promoted reconciliation taught by the Bible and the Koran, and which can be reached through sincere forgiveness”, they said.
One main aim this year during the Week for Peace will be to educate people, young people especially, to appreciate the religious and cultural differences which are part of a common heritage of traditions that forms the basis of national unity and peace. Another aim will be to help every citizen to promote peace through daily life witness and participation in community initiatives.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/6/2004 lines 30 words 304)


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