To FABC MEMBERS
16th May 2019 in Bangkok
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, SDB
Dear Friends,
Peace of Christ.
This is a painful talk.
Painful because we have gathered here after the death of innocent people, killed inside the church in Sri Lanka. Our prayers and fellowship are with the Christians families. This talk is painful because we belong to a faith tradition, that preaches NOT vengeance but forgiveness and reconciliation.
We never condoning the heinous crime against humanity, are called to emulate Christ who on the Cross amidst his grotesque suffering could call out “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.
It is painful.
It is painful to know that Easter became Good Friday for our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka on that fateful day. We sit at the graves of Holy Saturday and waiting for the streaks of hope of resurrection amidst the silence of the graves.
Until that happens the pain persists in the dawn, in the noon and through the pestering pain of the survivors, the relatives wading through this heart wrenching tragedy. Words fail in these paralyzing moments of darkness. A catastrophic tragedy reminding us of the cry of Rachel: A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Increasingly persecuted community – Christians
As international groups have pointed out, Christians have become the most persecuted religious group in the world. In the Middle East, in China, in India, in Sri Lanka, in Egypt, in Libya and other places Christians have become the scapegoats. In many Middle Eastern Countries the once flourishing Christian communities have disappeared. Too many innocents lost their lives and their blood cries out.
The Challenging Task to the Shepherds of Asia.
We need to be people of Hope, especially those of us who are Shepherds. We cannot allow ourselves to be gripped by fear and paralysis. These are the moments the Shepherds need to walk through the way of the Cross – never losing the hope of a better tomorrow – not only for our people but those who fell victim to evil.
As Shepherds, we are called upon to be hope generating agents. Remember the Psalm 23. This is a Shepherd’s song. It is dark everywhere. With faith and hope let us sing with the psalmist: “Even if we walk through the Valley of Death, You will guide us”.
Road Ahead – Preaching Peace, promoting Reconciliation
The first task is to preach peace – not vengeance. I come from a country where religious extremism saw violence and tears of the thousands. When Pope Francis visited Myanmar, he left a mandate “Do not repay hatred with hatred. Be an instrument of peace”. Let us remember violence begets more violence. Killing begets more killing. And eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth is an outdated mandate. Remember Gandhi who said “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Christ road-map is different “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” These words may look unkind and painful at the present situation. But that is the way of Cross.
Violence is for the weak. Non-Violence and forgiveness is possible only for those who are strong morally and spiritually. This sensibility needs to be nurtured among our people. The Church, in the words of Francis of Assisi, needs to become an instrument of peace praying “where there is hatred, let me sow love.”
At this juncture, Christians face four threats to their life and dignity:
1. Nationalism:
This phenomenon, often cited as a backlash to unfettered globalization is a fast spreading danger. Nationalism is defined as “loyalty and devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness “exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups.” The danger in many countries of Asia is a warped sense of victimhood of the majority community: “the minority complex of the majority community”. Both in Myanmar and Sri Lanka and in India, groups that celebrate their victimhood are becoming mainstreams. The minorities become the scapegoats. Rene Girard the philosopher has treated the violence against the minorities as the process of “scapegoating.”
Historically, nationalism has been used to define and explain everything from radical political and militaristic movements like Nazism to strong protectionist policies controlling modern foreign policy and economy. Nationalism, in its extreme forms, has led to genocide, the Holocaust, and more specifically, the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in 1990s and elsewhere.
Many of us come from countries where the toxic lava of nationalism and hatred is in full flow. In India, self-professed “Hindu nationalist” Narendra Modi has been elected with a robust verdict. Violence against Christians and church personnel is becoming a norm. Even in Europe and US nationalistic politicians are on the rise. Over concerns for economic wellbeing, Britain announced its exit from the European Union in 2016, dubbed “Brexit.” Even in the most wealthy country like US white nationalism is threatening Jews and African Americans.
2. Terrorism: What is Terrorism?
In the last five years, Christians have shed blood in Asia and the Middle East by suicide bombing. Terrorism has been described variously as a tactic and strategy, a crime and a holy duty, as well as a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination. But the killing of Christians is connected to the global conflicts in the near east, an increasing identification of Christians with the western political and economic interests. Attacking Christians also brings immense publicity for terrorists. The world has not taken seriously the silent genocide of Christians.
3. Religious Extremism
Some years ago, Professor Samuel Huntington wrote a provocative book: The Clash of Civilizations implying that the western Christian civilization will be at loggerheads with Islamic civilization impacting peace and development in the world. He proposed a hypothesis that people’s cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world. The events of the last two decades seem to prove his prediction. Violence in the name of religion is growing.
Terrorist acts done in the name of religion, typically aim to enforce a system of belief, viewpoint or opinion. The validity and scope of religious terrorism is limited to an individual’s view or a group’s view or interpretation of that belief system’s teachings. There are some researchers however, who argue that religion should be considered only one incidental factor and that such terrorism is primarily geopolitical.
What has happened in Middle East and Afghanistan in the last four decades is growing into international threat to small communities. With the spread of social media, terrorists have found safe spaces to spread their mission of hatred. In recent years religious riots in India, the slaughter of innocent Muslims at prayer by a white Nationalist in New Zealand, Muslim suicide bombers killing Christians in Sri Lanka have all made religion seem valueless and brought disgrace upon organized religion’s reputation.
What is missing is the vigorous condemnation of the fringe groups by the silent majority. God tells us that such activity must not be covered up or sanitized by believers. It must be vigorously and publicly condemned since it undermines the very ability of religion to influence people to live according to God’s directives. Now, people presume that religious people can do dastardly things.
A threatening example is ISIL (ISIS)
This group claimed responsibility for the Sri Lankan Easter attack. Thought to be wiped out in Middle East, the Sri Lankan attack demonstrated its growing influence in Asia and Africa.
ISIS aimed to create an Islamic state called a caliphate across Iraq, Syria and beyond. The group was implementing Sharia Law, rooted in eighth-century Islam, to establish a society that mirrors the region’s ancient past.
ISIS is known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions and other acts. ISIS uses modern tools like social media to promote reactionary politics and religious fundamentalism.
Terrorism is not a poor man’s game
The jihadi bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday are the latest reminder that terrorism is not driven by deprivation or ignorance. As with the 2016 cafe attack on foreigners in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the slaughter of churchgoers and hotel guests in Sri Lanka was carried out by educated Islamists from wealthy families. Two of the eight Sri Lankan suicide bombers were sons of one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen. Several of the attackers had the means to study abroad.
Terrorists are neither poor nor do they represent the interests of the poor. The interests of the West and its handling of the Middle East crisis continue to be the root cause of spread of disaffection and dastardly acts.
The past role of the West in supporting dark forces
Most of those who indulge in violence in the name of Islam are those inspired by an ultra conservative movement: Wahhabism. According to many authors, aided by the oil price boom, Saudi actively promoted these ultra conservative Islam, to various parts of the world.
But the oil price boom was not the only factor contributing to Wahhabism’s rapid spread. The so called Islamic terrorism did not start with the some Muslims. The export of this jihad-fostering ideology was also promoted by the United States and its allies to stem, for example, the threat from Soviet communism: The painful role of some rich western countries in the modern day terrorism is well documented. The CIA, according to the author Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (the nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy), “nurtured violent jihadism as a Cold War weapon”. Targeting terrorists and their networks brings only temporary success—but the long-term strategy needs to focus on discrediting these ideologies that attract attackers.[1]
We need to understand innocent Christians are sacrificed because of the last five decades of geostrategic conflicts between the Islamic countries and the West. More such violence cannot be ruled out. The very name Christian has become a liability. Western Societies have the capacity to protect themselves. But Asian countries and African countries especially the Christians will bear the brunt of violence. We appeal to all nations – solve your geostrategic conflicts. Live and let live Asian Christians.
Response to Religious Violence
The West has not understood Islam. While western countries manipulated orthodox regimes like Saudi for cheap oil, in the bargain allowing the ultra conservative merciless Wahhabism to spread to every corner of the earth.
The role of Saudi needs to be isolated from Islamic communities and countries. There are 47 Muslim dominated countries and more than a quarter of them are at peace with multiculturalism.
Terrorists and religious extremists gain when stereotyping of a whole religion for the crime of a few. We need to take notice Islamic terrorists have killed more Muslims than any other community.
Western manipulation of Islamophobia has become mainstream now, forcing even moderate nations to treat all faithful with suspicion.
The Pope has been reaching out to Islam in many ways. He is visiting Islamic countries, talking about religious freedom. He actively engages Islam and is very compassionate about Muslim refugees and migrants.
As an Abrahamic religion, Islam needs attention about its relationship with Christians especially the Quran plays a major role. Mary and Jesus find respectful place and prominent mention in the Quran.
Islam is a fast growing religion not only in traditional areas but now in Africa and even in the US. It is not fascination but it could be a backlash to unbridled secularization of the west, loss of faith, commodification of women and a market economy that punishes the poor. Terrorists manage to draw the world attention to their dark deeds. But the majority of the Islamic community has nothing to do with these deeds and abhor these acts like all the people.
World attention on Islamic extremism may hide other forms of religious extremism. The emergence of religious violence among Buddhist monks is the shocking phenomenon both in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Even some of the fringe Christian groups have been involved in hate speech and abuse of other religions. It is time to put our house in order and control those who see other religions through the eyes of the Middle Ages.
The need for moderate elements in every religion to come together on common platform of peace and service to the poor is a possible area of collaboration.
4. Market Economy and manipulation of Collective Anger
The fourth serious threat comes from the market fundamentalism and globalization. While it lifted millions out of poverty, it also created huge poverty. Millions left behind, have grievances, which the terrorists manipulate to radicalize. Communities are brought into conflict either through real or imagined grievances.
Pope Francis has led the way with welcoming migrants and refugees. Despite the toxic criticisms of the right wing Christians, The Pope continues to sow the seeds of peace. Through his prophetic actions like washing the feet of people from every religion and welcoming refugees from every religion and race, he is proving to be an antidote to hatred, narrow nationalism and religious animosity.
Reflection Interlude: (for private reflection or for Group discussion)
1. How do we face emerging nationalism in many countries?
2. What are the factors that help in radicalization of youth?
3. What are the ways we heal populations and avoid polarization?
4. What way we could reach out and reconcile with stigmatized communities?
5. How can we reach out to radicals of religious elite?
6. How to promote regular contact among religions promoting religions for peace?
Part II : Facing the Terrorism of Poverty
Terrorism, nationalism and religious extremism is constantly on the media. Because of the blood spilled and the grotesque graphic violence, terrorism gains huge attention.
Terrorism is a huge tragedy. But it is still not the biggest tragedy. Everyday 20 thousand children die of hunger and malnutrition. Around 10 million children die of poverty every year. The saddest under reported genocide of today is silent mortality of the poor children.
Poverty affects nearly 800 million population who do not have proper food and shelter. Millions are sold into modern forms of slavery as migrants. Poverty has no religion, poverty has no nationalism, poverty does not provoke international terror.
Poverty is the great terror in the world today.
It is the mortal sin of the modern times. The Catholic Church needs to foster our work among all the poor. The Catholic Social teaching asks to have radicalism: ‘option for the poor’. Recently I was invited to an international conference on ‘option for the poor’ in America. In a nation that is wounding itself through cultural wars and emerging white nationalistic tendencies, Catholic Notre dame University had the courage to bring to focus the plight of millions of poor who are incrementally killed through poverty.
I wish to share with you some of the ideas I spoke there.
I told the University audience, America is soaked in cultural wars. It needed raw courage to speak about powerless people and select this topic: the option for the poor and the fellowship with poor. When arrogance of political and economic powers enthrone themselves on citadels with a culture of indifference, our bountiful praises for the moral courage of individuals and institutions bring the tear and brokenness of the poor once again to the center stage.
America is a blessed nation. Many people think America is an existential heaven before you really go to the real heaven, a window-shopping of heaven before you go to the real one. The power, prestige, privilege and the prosperity this nation enjoys is an envy of many nations. But rich nations are also wounding themselves, with mutually mutilating cultural wars.
Celebrating victimhood by the rich and the other privileged class is fast becoming national infatuation. While every human being is entitled to his or her quota of illusion, rich countries are hijacking the discourse about the poor. Pope Francis called this globalization of indifference.
The problem today is not Fake News but the Fragmented discourses about human suffering. Total hijacking of the discourse of the poor men and women’s tears and brokenness. So this is a poignant moment – Notre Dame University the Our Lady University takes a sentence out of Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ to say “God raises the lowly”.
Since taking office, Pope Francis has said he wants the 1.2 billion strong Roman Catholic Church to defend the poor and to practice greater austerity itself. He has also made several calls for global financial reform.
I think we once again return to the core mission of the Church: To foster courage and compassion in mainstreaming option for the poor into the conscience of this world. Poverty as indicated is an offence to an all-living God who created every person with dignity. Pope Francis has been a voice crying for Economic Justice and Environmental Justice. The Old Testament God is a God of Justice. But millions never get to enjoy Justice.
Facing the greatest Catastrophe:
Scientists often speak of catastrophe visiting the earth from skies. Some stars falling off or a meteorite destroying the earth. These unnerve many. Pentecostal preachers go down to preaching of the ‘end times and coming of Jesus Christ.’
But the every day catastrophes go unnoticed in our radar.
Let me illustrate this with two examples, the American great investor Warren Buffet recently foretold in his Annual Letter that the world will face a mega catastrophe: In it he warned about the prospect of ‘The Big One’ — a major hurricane, earthquake, or cyber attack that will ‘dwarf hurricanes Katrina and Michael.’ Although he said such a disaster could occur tomorrow or in decades, he warned that it was inevitable and losses would be ‘very big.'[1] 2. This prediction is unsettling. But there are at least two mega catastrophe happening every day.
The first involves – as I mentioned already – the unnecessary death of millions of poor children – When it involves the poor then the terminologies undergo paralysis. According to World Health Organization (WHO) every day 20,000 children die owing to the hunger and malnutrition. Overall, 5.6 million children under age five, died in 2016, nearly 15,000 daily. (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). [2] The trend continues year after year.
The next Catastrophe is a huge part of the world that is hungry. The world, specially the rich world, wastes food around 1.3 billion tons of food. From farm to dinner table, the United States loses or wastes 133 billion pounds of food per year, the USDA reported in its 2014 report on food loss. That’s 31 percent of the country’s annual available food supply, or 429 pounds per person, per year. Americans’ food loss was worth about $161.6 billion at retail prices in 2010, the USDA says [3], Meanwhile, about 815 million people do not have enough food to lead a healthy, active life, and nearly 25 percent of people in developing countries are undernourished, according to the World Food Program.
The Pontiff Francis also addressed food waste, which is the theme of the United Nation’s World Environment Day 2013. “We should all remember, however, that throwing food away is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and sharing with the needy”
Poverty is not a natural phenomenon as rain or snow. Poverty is a man-made disaster. It is a terrorism. People are made poor, kept poor. Poverty is the mortal sin of the modern times. Oxfam has been loading our minds with staggering statistics how a miniscule minority owns this world. So the Pope’s efforts to bring Catholic Social Teaching into public square faces many challenges.
For every man of faith, option for the poor is NOT an option, but a mandate from Jesus himself. In his Galilean manifesto Jesus gives this not as an option but as a mandate and a mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed. (Luke 4:18)
When I was sent as a Papal Legate to the Eucharistic Congress in Philippines, I said “We need a Third World War against poverty … against the cruelty of dogs getting sumptuous organic food while more children have no food on the table … against a world that produces more weapons while more than half a billion don’t have enough food. Malnutrition and starvation as “mass genocide,” that in an unequal and uncaring world, “the Eucharist calls us to justice” because the Eucharist and poverty are inseparable. Yes there is a need for a third world war.
Pope Francis has declared that war already. War against Economic injustice (Evangelii Gaudium) and war against Environmental injustice (Laudato Si).
Definitely the world has seen development. That came out of the efforts of Catholic Church that continues to remind the world its moral obligation to the “least of its brothers and sisters” (Mt 25:40).
Once we come out of the horror of terrorism Asian Churches need to continue take a lead in this pilgrimage of hope to millions. Western churches and Asian Churches need to build bridges. The present day terrorism is the product of West and its meddling in the Middle East. We pray that Asian Christians may not become the targets in this geopolitical game. To prevent this we need our Western Churches for the advocacy and peace-making efforts with their leaders.
Option for the poor in Asia
The Asian continent is the mother of all religions. Great faith traditions nourished the world. Asia is the birth-place of major religions in the world. Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, animistic religions of the ethnic communities, make this region a spiritually soaked Oasis. Sadly the same traditions are now seems to be in a “clash of civilizations”. The challenge to all of us is to re assert the noble task of all religions. I am hopeful Asian Bishops can do that.
The continent is a continent of opportunity but also a land of challenges. Nearly 60 percent of the world population lives in this continent. The median age is 30. This is a young continent with vibrant human asset. The West sees Asia as the place of the emerging super power that is China. Infatuation with China can hide the rich diversity of the continent.
The third biggest Catholic Country in the world is the Philippines. The biggest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia. From South China seas to the center of India we have a vast stretch of indigenous land and colorful people. This is the region of Asian tigers – with unfettered market economy has brought prosperity to select countries but poverty is rampant in the region. Some of the poorest countries in the world are in this region.
Christ was an Asian, the first churches were Asian. Christians belong not to the dominant class in Asia. So by our powerlessness we are drawn to the option for the poor. All the poor of this region are the poor of Yahweh. This option for the Yahweh’s poor, the Pope said must be shown in action through ‘thinking and living with the poor”.
In many countries in Asia, the poorest and the most vulnerable sought dignity through the Church. In most of the countries the Church’s concern is with the people in the margins: the Dalits of India, the indigenous people in many countries, the migrants and trafficked people. Problems abound but these are also opportunities for a new mission.
This region produces thousands of women religious, who like Mother Teresa, are tending people afflicted with leprosy, HIV, TB etc. Women religious are in the forefront of works of the option for the poor. Empowering women religious in the justice and charity ministry is a way we could reach out to many more poor. Option for the poor is not an option in Asia. Poor are always with us, as Jesus said. We have no alternative. In many countries in Asia, we are poor, powerless and align ourselves with the most powerless and those thrown out of the society. Hidden terrorism of poverty and vulnerability is our daily experience. We try to fight against these through three ways:
1. Human development
2. Justice and peace
3. Humanitarian response.
Apart from these, when I was elected as the President of FABC, I wrote down a possible Road Map
1. Increased Focus on Social Development and pastoral care of our people.
2. Work for the plea of Pope Francis to overcome the obstacles of Economic and Environmental injustices.
3. The importance, as recognized by the Pope, of re-engaging with the indigenous church and affirming the rights of indigenous people to resources and traditional ways of life.
4. Promotion of Pope St. John Paul’s Exhortation for the Asian Church to reap a “great harvest of faith” in the vast and vital continent.
5. Our work with the poor and their dignity needs to be the turf where we meet other religions.
6. Reconciliation had to be prioritized as part of a ‘New Evangelization’ in Asia, not least amid areas of chronic violent conflict.
I wish to conclude with prayers for our Sri Lankan brothers and Sisters. Faced with the great tragedy, we gather here not in a paralysis but with renewed commitment to peace and justice. I strongly believe that option for the poor and their development is a suitable antidote to religious extremism and hatred. New Evangelization urges to live and work among non Christian brothers and sisters.
May our deliberations reflect on the ways of interacting with all religions and people of religions who live in poverty.
Let there be a new dawn of hope through our work in the Asian continent. Let every religion stand up for peace. Let compassion, not conflict, become the common religion for the people of Asia and the world.
For reflection of the whole Paper
RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM
What kinds of religious extremism do I find in my area?
What are the root causes of these extremism?
Religious extremism is designed and propagated by elites and rich – how are the poor drawn into this?
OPTION FOR THE POOR
How can we use the ‘option for the poor’ to bring people together?
How can we reach out to more “non- Christian” poor in our work?
CLASH OF CIVILIZATION
We live in a continent that is the mother of all religions – how can we work towards mutual understanding?
Some of the biggest Muslim nations/communities are found in our continent. How can greater interaction and understanding be brought together? [1]
[1] The Global War on Terrorism Has Failed. Here’s How to Win. BY BRAHMA CHELLANEY FOREIGN POLICY, | MAY 11, 2019, 2:42 PM)
