Cardinal Rosales asks Imams, Bishops in Mindanao
to continue working, praying for peace

Manila Arcbbishop Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales sent a message to his brother bishops and the Ulamas in Mindanao asking them to continue working and praying for peace. This was sent through Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla.

In his letter  Cardinal Rosales, who served in Mindanao for ten years as Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, told Archbishop Capalla , “We are just as worried here in Luzon as our brothers and sisters in Mindanao for what is happening in Lanao, Cotabato and Zamboanga, Davao, Iligan and environs.” He said that his message is for “the Bishops of the part of Mindanao presently affected by the eruption of violence and our Muslim Brothers and Sisters, especially the Ulama’s and their Imams” and that “our experience of violence in the past (in Mindanao) cannot have any reason to be repeated!”

“Peace is the only way to proceed to PEACE!” the Cardinal closed his letter to the Davao Archbishop.

Following is the Message of the Cardinal.

MINDANAO’S BISHOPS-ULAMA CONFERENCE ‘09

The violent scenario that has recently unfolded in southern Mindanao does not speak well of the way Mindanaoans love dialogue in the process of fostering friendship and cultivating peace.  The recent killing of unprotected civilians by armed groups has the potential of re-starting a series or murders by revengeful gangs from innocent victims’ clans.  Already there are enough lessons from the violence of the past to make everyone pause in order to consider the regrettable role of violence in civil society.

We are citizens of peace.  And if disputed issues persist, like the Ancestral Domain, other development programs, the security of regions and persons, the Constitution and Laws of the land are always there to resolve the problematic.

Through the Ulamas we ask the Imams to lead our Muslim brothers and sisters and their communities in prayers for common fraternity and the pursuit of peace, as we also ask our Christian brothers and sisters to pray for the same unity and peace especially during the sacred observance of Muslim Ramadan and our approaching celebration of Christian Advent Season.

The gift of unity and peace does not exclusively belong to any one faith or group.  Unity and Peace belong to all of us - - - to work for and to live with it.

Daghan ug Mapanalingong Salamat sa Tanan!

+ GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
(Formerly Bishop of Bukidnon, Mindanao)

30 August 2008