Archbishop says prejudices still blocking Mindanao peace

Biases and prejudices by some Christians continue to hamper peace efforts in Mindanao, a Catholic Church official lamented. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma made the admission after hosting the second of three workshops for peace in Mindanao. He lamented some Christians hinder peace efforts because of "biases and prejudices" against the Muslims and indigenous peoples. “It is very important that we change how we look at people of other cultural groups such as the Muslims and the indigenous peoples," he said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. Ledesma also said Christians should also exert efforts to be reconciled with the practitioners of other religions particularly Islam. “We need to change our mindset and our understanding of the dignity of the human person, whatever his/her culture and religion," he said adding, “Reconciliation should be part and parcel of peacebuilding." The latest workshop was held in Cagayan de Oro City August 11 to 14. It brought together members of the clergy, laymen and laywomen, and peace advocates from the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the dioceses of Iligan, Malaybalay and Pagadian and the Prelature of Marawi. “These workshops are the continuation of our work in promoting the culture of peace here in Mindanao," Ledesma said. One of the resource persons, Fr. Robert Schreiter, said reconciliation plays a significant part in peacebuilding because “it brings together in unity people in conflict despite their diversity of religion and culture. It brings together people to live in harmony." “Without reconciliation, peace in Mindanao will be very hard to achieve," he said. Schreiter is a professor of Theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Ordained a priest in 1975 and a member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, he served as dean of the Catholic Theological Union for nine years and has published 17 books. Schreiter said the work of reconciliation is an extension of a person’s spirituality because it is anchored with God. “God is the author of reconciliation. We are made in the image of God. Therefore, the quality of our work (of reconciliation) depends on the quality of our relationship with God," he said. The Cagayan de Oro City leg of the workshops was the second of the 3-leg workshop series that the Catholic Relief Services helped in organizing along with the Catholic Peacebuilding Network. The first workshop was held August 9-11 in Zamboanga City. The third leg will be held in Tacurong City on August 16 to 18. — LBG, GMANews.TV