(June 16-22)

There is no doubt the Catholic Church is the second most powerful institution in the Philippines. While it theoretically caters only to the spiritual life of the Catholics in this country, but its actual influence or hold goes beyond this imaginary demarcation between what is spiritual and material. More often, a swing to the other side is the rule rather than the restriction, because man is both spiritual and material, which cannot be separated.

How do we explain the presence of dioceses in all parts of the Philippines and the other institutions like colleges and universities which inclines to serve more the needs of their flocks in the temporal world? How do we explain the influence of the Church over the minds of practically all leaders of this country from the president to the village chairmen, except those in Moro areas? How about the vast investments of Church groups, free of taxes, which are intended for the Faith? And the vast influence of the Papacy behind the Church in this country?

It is on these premises that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) especially its peace panel sincerely appeal to the Catholic Church in the Philippines to play a positive role in the current GPH-MILF peace negotiations. While it is a matter of truth that many Church men or institutions have played roles in promoting peace and justice, respect for the human rights of man, and undertaking relief, rehabilitation services in Mindanao, but as a distinct institution through its highest archbishop in the Philippines like the late Cardinal Sin before or even the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), it had not officially issued a clear-cut position in support of the GPH-MILF peace negotiation. It had not also taken a stance in tacit recognition of the “legitimate grievances” of the Moros, something like the official position adopted by the Government of the United States of America contained in the letters of the respective deputy secretary of state of both President George Bush and President Barack Hussein Obama. Frankly, there can be no complete healing in Mindanao, vis-à-vis the Moros, if the Church, which played a clear role in the Moro-Spanish War in Mindanao, continues to play soft roles. The efforts of individual priests like Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Father Angel Calvo, Father Bert Leyson, Bishop Fernando Capalla, and few others, are most welcomed and making lot of waves but their contributions cannot be compared if the Catholic Church in this country takes a clear stand in support of the peace negotiation, and that decision is followed by concrete steps and actions, in coordination or cooperation with other peace-living citizens and groups in this country. Surely, the MILF cannot watch in the sidelines; it can reciprocate and cooperate constructively. Surely, the government will listen; President Benigno Aquino III is not one person who is dismissive of good ideas.