Peace in Mindanao: A Catholic Perspective

• Lesson 6 is about peace in Mindanao and the journey towards lasting peace

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the meaning of peace using the lens of the Catholic teachings
• Articulate how to apply the 3 ways to peace building in Mindanao by understanding the main themes of conflict
• Raise awareness on peace issues and develop values and attitudes that will lead to action for more peaceful community through a Pastoral Circle sharing

QILT Work

• Review lessons in HURTADO from topic 1: Pastoral Circle to topic 5: Peace
• Remember to submit your Analysis Paper, both individual and final paper, in HURTADO
• The analysis paper submission deadline is this week

Human Dignity

• A person is capable of self-knowledge, self-possession, and of freely giving himself and entering communion with others and the environment
• Human dignity is not something earned or lost, it is by virtue of being a human person
• Each human life is sacred as its origin is God
• A great concern is the devaluation of human life through abortion or EJK
• Everyone has the right to life, to live, freely establish a family, share in work and develop intelligence and religious freedom

Mindanao Conflict

• Peace is an essential element in the common good
• The Philippines region has been plagued by conflict and violence for decades resulting in suffering

Mindanao Conflict Overview

• The conflict is complex with roots in the region's history and politics and can be traced to Spanish colonization
• It continued during the American occupation when the Moros fought for their independence
• Factors fueling the conflict are political marginalization and religious differences
• Violence and human rights abuses exist on both sides
• This has displaced millions, caused thousands of deaths and community destruction
• Reasons for conflict are land, politics and armed struggle
  • Christians as "storytellers": legal ownership
  • Muslims as "storytellers": historical ownership
  • Christians as "storytellers": politicization of conflict
  • Muslims as "storytellers": political oppression
  • Christians as "storytellers": Muslim groups as rebels and Christian groups as defenders
  • Muslims as "storytellers": Muslim groups as freedom fighters and Christian groups as aggressors

Peace (Sociology)

• Peace is the absence of violence, that is, not only personal or direct violence, but structural or indirect violence too
• Peace requires the presence of social justice
• Structural violence leads to death and suffering due to the conditions that result from it, like extreme poverty, starvation, discrimination against minority groups, and denial of human rights

Definition of Peace

• Just because there is no war, it does not mean there peace, since as long as there is corruption, poverty, and violence in any form, there cannot be peace
• This definition is according to Johan Galtung, a sociologist

Peace (The Church)

• Peace represents the fullness of life
• Peace is not merely the absence of war
• It is founded on a correct understanding of the human person and requires establishing an order based on justice and charity
• Peace is the fruit of justice and love
• Justice is giving what is due to God and to your neighbor, when we act out of love
• This definition is according to Gaudium et Spes, Vatican II
• Human dignity and respect for human rights are essential elements for promoting peace
• This definition is according to Pacem in Terris

Three Ways to Peace Building

• Jesus' Approaches
• Works of Justice
• Interreligious Dialogue

Jesus' Approaches

• Rejection of violence - the church believes violence is never a proper response and is always evil because it destroys the dignity, life, and freedom of human beings
• Love and reconciliation rather than retaliation is also necessary. Love of neighbor, even one's enemy, is the heart of the Christian message and is considered Jesus' most important commandment
• Use of transforming initiatives - People are called to actively engage in peacemaking. Jesus told his disciples to respond to violence by taking unexpected initiatives. This means taking positive initiatives to 'neutralize' situations of violence and injustice so that the transforming message of God's love can take root

The Fruit of Justice and Love

• True peace cannot be achieved until there is justice for all
• Quote by Gaudium et Spes 78, Pope Paul VI: "If you want peace, work for justice"
• The world will never be the dwelling place of peace until peace has found a home in the heart of every man, until every man preserves in himself the order ordained by God to be preserved
• This definition is from Pacem in terris

Interreligious Dialogue

• Dialogue of every day life is respecting people, including belonging to a different brotherhood or a different faith
• Dialogue of action is service to other people despite religious affiliations and is a way of life that places humanity before religion
• Dialogue of religious experience is the dialogue when people experience the goodness of other religions. The main caveat is that there is no conversion
• Dialogue of theological exchange takes place if people from different religions gather, talk, listen and appreciate each other's faith without insisting that one's faith is superior from others

Synthesis

• Peace in Mindanao can only be achieved through a collaborative effort of people of diverse faiths
• Everyone needs to be mindful of the church and government's role in promoting peace
• Acknowledging one's fault could be the start of reconciliation
• Government should adopt structural changes to show that it is a fair institution to its Christian, Muslim, or other religious brothers and sisters
• Establishing the Bangsamoro Organic Law is an example of this to attain lasting peace

Action

• Activity requires the class to be divided into 7 or 8 groups

Pastoral Circle Sharing Instructions

• Each group has to share about a given situation and answer the following questions:
  • What is happening in the situation?
  • Why is it happening?
  • What does it mean in the light of faith?
  • What should everyone do about it?