Sunday, August 24, 2014

CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT LEADERS IN LANAO DEL NORTE CONVENE FOR BANGSAMORO

written by: Drieza A. Lininding


On Saturday, 16 August 2014 1:24 PM About 300 delegates composed of pastors of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, United Methodist Church and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and from various parishes of the Diocese of Iligan City and Lanao Del Norte gathered to discuss the Bangsamoro issue.

It was held last August 13, 2014 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center at the compound of the Inahan sa Kanunayng Panabang Seminary at the Seminary Road, Pala-o, Iligan City.

The Bangsamoro forum was initiated by the Ecumenical and the Interreligious Dialogue Commissions of the Diocese of Iligan headed by Fr. Rodulfo M. Galenzoga. The theme of the gathering was “Understanding the Bangsamoro: A Way Forward to Lasting Peace in Mindanao”.

The main objective of the forum is to make the clergy, religious brothers, sisters and lay leaders understand the Bangsamoro and overcome fears and even prejudices and able to work for peace in solidarity with Muslims and Lumads.

Among those invited as resource speakers were Mr. Drieza A. Lininding, Lead Convenor of Free the Bangsamoro Movement (FBM) who explained the Historical Perspective of the Mindanao Conflict, Mr. Gaima Masbud II, Legal Staff of the Bangsamoro Transiton Commision (BTC) who gave Updates on the On-Going GPH-MILF Peace Process and Mr. Agakhan M. Sharief, Chairman of the Bangsamoro National Movement for Peace and Development (BNMPD) who delivered a solidarity message to the participants.

Mr. Sharief explained that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) treated the People of the Book as his own constituents. The People of the book enjoyed protection from the Muslims during the reign of ISLAM in Madinah Al-Munawarra as enshrined in the "Madinah Constitution" crafted by no less than Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The most Reverend Msgr. Elenito Galido, Bishop of the Diocese of Iligan, delivered a short message of peace and stressed the importance of justice in achieving peace.

Fr. Deomedes Cabiles, Vicar Forane of the Vicariate of Sto. Nino gave his final words of thanks to the assembly. This was followed by Fr. Rodulfo M. Galenzoga, convener of the forum who reiterated the theme of the forum and stressed that this is the challenge and commitment of all believers.

There were many positive feedbacks on the forum and there were those who expressed to have this kind of dialogue at the parish level.

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