Brothers and sisters, on November 20, we commemorated “Red Wednesday” to remember our fellow Christian brothers and sisters who were abused and slain because of their faith. In the previous week, the Catholic Church in the Philippines opened the Year of Ecumenism, Interreligious Dialogue and Indigenous Peoples with the theme “Dialogue Towards Harmony.” We can say the two events are our Church’s observance to Jesus’ prayers in the book of John 17:21, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me.”
According to Religious Freedom in the World Report 2018, 19.3 percent, or 38 of the 196 countries included in the report, had religious freedom violations. From the 38 countries, 17 were included in the discrimination category because of the institutionalization of intolerance or having policies that outwardly strangle citizens based on their religion and faith. Meanwhile, 21 countries fall under the persecution category because of evident attacks from groups using their religion to ruin possessions of those who do not share their belief, in order to expel these people from their homes and to take their lives.
Added in the report, 80 percent of all acts of tyranny rooted from religion in the world is directed against Christians. We continuously see this in countries, such as Syria and Iraq. Here in the Philippines, some of the harsh incidents in parts of Mindanao are being related to the Christians who live there. Although Christianity is said to be the religion with the biggest number of faithful in the world, it also has the biggest number of persecuted faithful.
Nevertheless, Christians aren’t the only ones who experience discrimination. From the independent international peacebuilding organization International Alert, there are countries that prohibit Muslim women from wearing their hijab in schools and offices. Some Muslims are also required to replace their names in their résumés to have job opportunities. Here in our country, there is a barrier in freedom of speech regarding their culture and faith from the closing of over 60 Lumad schools in Mindanao because of accusations that these facilities are being used for terrorism. Because of this, almost 1,000 Lumad youth have stopped schooling.
Brothers and sisters, the Holy Church’s calling is the dialogue between all religions and faiths. Being open in dialogue unfolds the chance to find the space for unity and cooperation. Different religions share a great responsibility in achieving world peace, and this comes from the truth of celebrating our hopes to further advocate the dignity and wellness of man.
Let us realize the hopes of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad-Tayyeb in their letter, entitled “A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,” published in February. In this letter, the two leaders call upon us to become instruments of their united voice in reconciliation of all faithful, even those who do not belong to any religion. Their resolution through this letter hopefully becomes the way to overthrow cruelty, and enrich sympathy and empathy that all religions propagate. They also hope that all religions reconcile with the belief that we are all created by God to understand, help, and love one another.
Brothers and sisters, in the end, the similarities of religions are far greater than their differences. And hopefully one of these similarities is eliminating any form of discrimination and persecution. Let us believe that understanding, connecting, and living with one another is possible.
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