Terrorist ideology ruining inter-faith friendship in Mindanao - Quevedo

From the Philippine News Agency (May 31): Terrorist ideology ruining inter-faith friendship in Mindanao - Quevedo

A high-ranking official of the Roman Catholic Church in the country said that terrorist ideology is destroying the relationship of individuals in Mindanao particularly Muslims, Christians, and indigenous peoples.

"The friendship of Muslims, Christians, and indigenous peoples in Mindanao, a friendship shown in the streets and markets, in offices and schools, is being destroyed by a terrorist ideology, that asserts the morality of killing another in the name of God. This is a demonic ideology," said Archbishop Orlando Cardinal Quevedo in his Homily during the Canonical coronation of Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu at the Our Lady of Aranzazu Shrine, San Mateo, Rizal on Wednesday.

"The true believers in Islam have condemned this ideology, and this violence of terrorism is creating the greatest of fear and anxiety in Mindanao," added the Cotabato prelate.

He also asked the faithful to respond to the appeal of Our Lady of Aranzazu to provide “loving service” to those who need help especially “divided and broken family, homeless street children, evacuees in Marawi, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Maguindanao as well as the young people who are traumatized by violence and those who are suffering from the conflict.

“See where the kind of loving service is needed. Service is needed in divided and broken family, in homeless street children, in evacuees of the Marawi, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Maguindanao, in children traumatize by violence, service is needed in the poor of your own neighborhood," he said.

"And Our Lady and her son are calling us to help them in any way we can. Do not wait for summon to help. Volunteer your talent. Volunteer your treasure. This is the practical implication of crowning our Lady of Aranzazu," Quevedo added.

The Cardinal urged the people to pray and hold on to Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu for them survive the on going conflict, fear, darkness and struggles.

“The true believers in Islam had condemned this ideology and this violence of terrorism is creating the greatest of fear and anxiety in Mindanao. Hundreds die in Mindanao in the hands of rebel of different types, in the hands of terrorists, of drug lords and drug pushers, powerful people against the law of the land through corruption and dishonesty aggravating poverty and development. We need our Lady, we need her son and yet we need also to look our self brothers and sisters," he said.

Quevedo also called on the public to pray to the Our Lady of Aranzazu and her infant son to heal the brokenness and violence in the country.

“Let us thank the Holy Father for this extraordinary blessing. Return to our lady and her infant son. Let us beg them to heal the brokenness and violence in our land. Let us beg them to bring peace, unity, and integrity to our country. Let them be the queen and the king of our minds and hearts. Give us the grace to power them in serving you to do what love demands for the sake of our brothers and sisters,” the Mindanao bishop added.

The conflict between government forces and the Maute group started over a week ago and has resulted to the death of civilians and from both camps. It also affected thousands of residents who sought refuge in neighboring towns.

This prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place the enitre Mindanao region under martial law.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/992506