Group of Mindanao Catholic nuns decries arrest of Aussie missionary
THE Sisters’ Association in Mindanao (Samin) appeals to the Philippine government to stop the persecution of Australian missionary nun Sr. Patricia Fox, NDS which the Bureau of Immigration had arbitrarily detained and threatened with deportation for engaging in “political activities.” She was reportedly released yesterday but the investigation will still be pushed and deportation proceedings remain poised against her.
This action by the BI is a disservice to missionaries who have spent their lives in solidarity with poor Filipino communities. In urban and rural poor areas not reached by government services, missionaries complement these glaring gaps through sustained nutrition, health, education, and other programs.
What happened to Sr. Pat sends a chilling effect to religious missionaries who stand witness to the suffering and death of the Filipino people through systemic poverty and injustice. This witnessing needs to be done not only with acts of charity but with acts of justice. Sr. Pat’s almost three decades of service demonstrates a life devoted to social justice for the Filipino people, something that is truly
patriotic and Christian and certainly not illegal and ‘undesirable.’ She has followed the call of Pope Francis to “go to the peripheries” where Christ is most needed.
We stand with Catholic and other church leaders and institutions who have raised their voices to denounce this act. We stand with farmers and Lumads whose rights and dignity will be further degraded if missionaries are arbitrarily stripped of universally-guaranteed rights.
We pray that our authorities reexamine this emerging policy of intolerance for prophetic witnessing by church people. May the government realize that Sr. Pat and the many others like her are merely being faithful in their discipleship of Christ who proclaims the message of human rights and a just peace.
Sr. Virgencita Alegado, RSM Chairperson, Samin
Sr. Ma. Luz Mallo, m.a. Executive Secretary, Samin