Sin
Leads Rosary, Mass for Peace at Edsa Shrine
Nationwide
Prayer Assembly for Peace set on Feb. 28
Anti-war
protests in the Philippines continued with a prayer rally for peace held at Edsa
Shrine officiated by the Manila archbishop himself, a Link for Peace by
women’s alliance Gabriela and movie actors and another big prayer rally
planned on Feb. 28.
By
Ronalyn Olea
Bulatlat.com
Taking
cue from Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the imminent U.S. war on Iraq,
Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin led a prayer rally for peace at the Edsa
Shrine Friday.
About
5,000 anti-war activists and parishioners, mostly from Catholic schools and
parishes in Metro Manila, attended the rosary rally and mass.
“We
must not be resigned as though war is inevitable,” Cardinal Sin said,
referring to the war against Iraq and the ongoing military offensives in
Mindanao. ”We must never lose hope. We
must never give up the path to peace and unity.”
Sin
also called for an honest dialogue, solidarity between states and the noble
exercise of diplomacy.
Sin
also called for an end to hostilities in Mindanao, saying, “The meaningless
loss of human life and property, especially in Mindanao, can be averted if valid
human development programs are instituted.”
Sin
said poverty and injustice are the main opponents of peace.
He said that failure to address the needs of the people is the grave
threat to peace.
Nationwide
prayer rally
On
the same day, Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr. met with other bishops, local officials,
school representatives and leaders of various organizations, at the St.
Peter’s Parish in Quezon City for the Feb. 28 Nationwide Prayer Assembly for
Peace to be held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila.
Vice
President Teofisto Guingona, who has opposed the war on Iraq, also spoke at the
meeting. “We must not only oppose the impending war on Iraq but also the
ongoing war in Mindanao,” he said.
The
United Nations weapons inspection team will present its final report before the
UN Security Council on Feb. 28.
“Let
us double, triple and quadruple our ‘Stand for Peace,’” wrote Bacani in a
letter of invitation. ‘Stand for
Peace’ was led by Guingona, Jan. 31.
Member-schools
of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines (CEAP) vowed to send
delegations for this activity.
Alliances
Justice Not War Coalition, Prescriptions for Peace and the Protestant National
Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) will also join the prayer rally.
Overseas
Filipino workers affiliated with Migrante International will also hold
simultaneous protest actions.
Other
actions
In
another protest action, the militant women’s group Gabriela led the Link for
Peace along Roxas Boulevard, Feb. 19.
Film
director Carlos Siguion Reyna, celebrities Cherry Pie Picache, Malou de Guzman
joined the event.
Meanwhile,
members of the Kalipunan ng Kristiyanong Kabataan sa Pilipinas (KKKP) and Youth
of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (YIFI) have started their quilt signing for
peace in various Catholic and Protestant churches. They gathered signatures
from the parishioners of the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, National Cathedral
of the IFI in Manila and Cathedral of the Holy Child in Mandaluyong.
In
Baguio City, the Cordillera People’s Alliance held a forum Thursday with
Rafael Baylosis, Kilusang Mayo Uno consultant for political affairs and Sr. Mary
Grenough of the Justice Not War Coalition as speakers.
Last
week, more than 600 religious and members of militant groups gathered for a
prayer rally and candle lighting along the Session Road. Bulatlat.com
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