ASIA/PHILIPPINES - No to "total war" in Mindanao, unity against "the ideology of violence"

Monday, 9 February 2015

Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - "In order to combat violence and war we need to adopt different methods. I appeal in particular to religious leaders, Christians and Muslims. We have a great responsibility. Muslim leaders should be more active in promoting the concept of mercy and compassion, the central message of Islam; and Christians have to refer to the central message of the Gospel which is love": is what PIME missionary Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, founder of the Movement for dialogue "Silsilah", on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines says in a statement sent to Fides.
"Some leaders - he says - are giving space to political interests and do not have a long-term vision of the common good, which often requires a deeper reflection. What will happen if there is 'total war' in Mindanao?" notes Father D'Ambra. The missionary asks his Islamic community friends for reflection, citing the terrorist group IS (Islamic State) active in Iraq, and Abu Sayyaf, active at a local level. "Why do young Muslims join these groups?" He asks and gives an answer: "Wrong ideologies are the main reasons: it is justified violence by religious ideologies".
As a Christian priest I want to ask forgiveness for the appeals to 'total war' in Mindanao, often from Christian sectors and politicians. I also ask my Muslim friends to act with determination to encourage all the faithful to live peacefully in a multicultural and multireligious world". Fr. D'Ambra invites Muslim leaders to "be brave in reconciling differences within Muslim groups, in order to obtain greater moral authority to say that violence is not the right path to achieve peace".
The missionary said that currently Christians are leaving Mindanao for fear, while many Muslims are unjustly suspected of "terrorism" in cities populated by a majority of Christians. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 09/02/2015)


Share: