25 April 2018
Photo credit: ABS CBN
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15: 18-19 (NIV)
The Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Order of Carmelites in the Philippines (O.Carm Philippines- JPIC) condemns the brazen act of persecution by the Bureau of Immigration against our fellow religious and missionary Sister Patricia Fox, NDS. The cancellation of her missionary visa and threat of deporting her from the country is a shameless act.
Sister Patricia has long been familiar to us as a nun who selflessly gives her life to be in solidarity with the Lumads, farmers, fisher-folk and factory workers. We are one with her missionary work for Justice, Peace and Human Rights in the different sectors in our society. Hers is a real-time testimony of giving flesh to our Lord’s gospel message of life, freedom and salvation for the people being enslaved by structural social sin. For 27 years, she wholeheartedly served the poor and oppressed.
Why is it that the Duterte Administration is so adamantly against to her missionary work for these poor and marginalized sectors of society? Working as a missionary with people’s organizations and marginalized sectors is not anti-government; neither is it partisan politics to join with their aspirations for lasting peace and a just society.
We believe that only despotic tyrant would consider her missionary work as undesirable. Hence, we call on our fellow religious and missionaries and the people of good will to stand with Sister Patricia and continue our collective stand of solidarity with the marginalized sectors in our society.
We urge the concerned government agency to stop persecuting church people who are serving the people of God.
Hands off Sister Patricia! Stop persecuting Church people! No to rising tyranny!
