Again, supporting the Nun from Down Under
(amidst all threats)
By Lualhati Madlangawa Guererro
t is truly indeed that with devotion to the faith and to the people sometimes include facing the repercussions such as those from the state. For days after the arrest and questioning by the authorities, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation hath issued an order cancelling Sister Patricia Fox's missionary visa followed by deportation after thirty days.
Quite surprising at first, for the authorities intentionally without even delivering a copy to her lawyers and instead releasing the decision to media, that order ignored the fact that her legal team had yet to even respond to the original arrest order- which most people think of it as politically motivated no matter how it is well-hidden using the law.
And because of that kind of move it makes a concerned rather ridicule the system for as far as everyone knows that her actions are in accordance to the social teachings of the church particularly those of social justice. If defending and asserting human rights isn't also a Christian vocation, then how come in the Bible it stated how Christ defended Mary Magdalene from being stoned by the populace? And if supporting the interests of the poor isn't also a Christian vocation, then how come it is virtuous to feed and clothe the needy? "Sr. Pat", as everyone fondly called her, just like her martyred colleagues Frs. Favali and Tenorio, is indeed politicised because of her surroundings and from the people she dealt with; and since her fundamental beliefs and practices is itself Christian, then people should embrace her, enough to be a called as a precious asset to the Filipino, especially at her age.
Quite surprising at first, for the authorities intentionally without even delivering a copy to her lawyers and instead releasing the decision to media, that order ignored the fact that her legal team had yet to even respond to the original arrest order- which most people think of it as politically motivated no matter how it is well-hidden using the law.
And because of that kind of move it makes a concerned rather ridicule the system for as far as everyone knows that her actions are in accordance to the social teachings of the church particularly those of social justice. If defending and asserting human rights isn't also a Christian vocation, then how come in the Bible it stated how Christ defended Mary Magdalene from being stoned by the populace? And if supporting the interests of the poor isn't also a Christian vocation, then how come it is virtuous to feed and clothe the needy? "Sr. Pat", as everyone fondly called her, just like her martyred colleagues Frs. Favali and Tenorio, is indeed politicised because of her surroundings and from the people she dealt with; and since her fundamental beliefs and practices is itself Christian, then people should embrace her, enough to be a called as a precious asset to the Filipino, especially at her age.
With all these, alongside the growing support towards her social action, and despite the unjust order issued from the authorities, the lawyer-nun from Australia vowed to continue helping the oppressed. "I will continue my missionary work wherever I am as it is who I am" as what she said in a text message to Philippine Star. So is her legal team, whom, in spite of the limited weeks given to them, chose not to stop but instead continues to challenge the order- and even insisted that the Bureau has no right to cancel her visa without giving her the opportunity to contest the report of the Intelligence Division and to be heard on her defence. Statements from groups like the "Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines" also expressed sympathy on her cause, as it said:
"We demand that the rights of Sr. Pat be respected, and so the rights of our mission partners, foreigner or Filipino, who truly work for justice in our country. Let the government agencies, especially the BID, not hamper the prophetic work of our foreign missionaries to alleviate the lives of the poor and powerless.
Moreover, Sr. Pat is a missionary for Life, Human Rights and Justice. She can only be considered undesirable alien to those who seek to muzzle the truth and foist tyranny upon us."
Or the bluntly-stated message from Gerardo Lanuza, as he saidth from his Facebook:
"Sister Patricia Fox will be deported within 30 days. And you are asking, why the hell is she actively engaged with the farmers and the poor? The Synod of Bishops in 1971 released the statement, Justice in the World:
“Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel.”
By "constitutive" the Bishops meant: YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT STRUGGLING FOR JUSTICE. So if you are wondering why Sis. Pat will be deported, you might as well look at the mirror before praying:
"As a christian, WHY AM I NOT BEING DEPORTED?"
Have you really lived your Christianity? I smell Marx's opium."
With all the sympathies and support, it shows how these concerned find it just to defend her right to stay in the country and to continue her calling. For sure fake reports and distorters continue to churn 'reports' against the nun as well as her supporters, as part of their rally in support of that goddamn despot Duterte.
Only an insecure would believe in that 'report', and perhaps willing to distort the law enough to justify an act.
Anyway, no matter what the system may "redescribe" it as a precautionary measure such as to cut Sr. Fox's Missionary visa and hence to deport her after thirty days according to its order, it clearly shows how the Duterte Administration chose to hid the facts from each and every concerned, such as those from a foreigner. Apologists may insist that concerned foreigners shouldn't interfere at all if not keeping their mouths shut and enjoy the summer as if nothing happened; but, knowing that Duterte and his clique, being upholders of the rotten system, hath showed to the world its bloodied actions outweighing those of its developmental projects, isn't it that concerning?
Perhaps, regardless of all the threats, it is indeniable that the lawyer-nun is much Filipino out of a genuine concern to a country she adopted as her own home than the so-called "filipinos" who chose to kowtow to vested interests.
"We demand that the rights of Sr. Pat be respected, and so the rights of our mission partners, foreigner or Filipino, who truly work for justice in our country. Let the government agencies, especially the BID, not hamper the prophetic work of our foreign missionaries to alleviate the lives of the poor and powerless.
Moreover, Sr. Pat is a missionary for Life, Human Rights and Justice. She can only be considered undesirable alien to those who seek to muzzle the truth and foist tyranny upon us."
Or the bluntly-stated message from Gerardo Lanuza, as he saidth from his Facebook:
"Sister Patricia Fox will be deported within 30 days. And you are asking, why the hell is she actively engaged with the farmers and the poor? The Synod of Bishops in 1971 released the statement, Justice in the World:
“Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel.”
By "constitutive" the Bishops meant: YOU CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT STRUGGLING FOR JUSTICE. So if you are wondering why Sis. Pat will be deported, you might as well look at the mirror before praying:
"As a christian, WHY AM I NOT BEING DEPORTED?"
Have you really lived your Christianity? I smell Marx's opium."
With all the sympathies and support, it shows how these concerned find it just to defend her right to stay in the country and to continue her calling. For sure fake reports and distorters continue to churn 'reports' against the nun as well as her supporters, as part of their rally in support of that goddamn despot Duterte.
Only an insecure would believe in that 'report', and perhaps willing to distort the law enough to justify an act.
Anyway, no matter what the system may "redescribe" it as a precautionary measure such as to cut Sr. Fox's Missionary visa and hence to deport her after thirty days according to its order, it clearly shows how the Duterte Administration chose to hid the facts from each and every concerned, such as those from a foreigner. Apologists may insist that concerned foreigners shouldn't interfere at all if not keeping their mouths shut and enjoy the summer as if nothing happened; but, knowing that Duterte and his clique, being upholders of the rotten system, hath showed to the world its bloodied actions outweighing those of its developmental projects, isn't it that concerning?
Perhaps, regardless of all the threats, it is indeniable that the lawyer-nun is much Filipino out of a genuine concern to a country she adopted as her own home than the so-called "filipinos" who chose to kowtow to vested interests.
And obviously, it cannot be denied!