Letter writing campaign

The Uniting Church in Australia has a long formal partnership with the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). We have hosted UCCP visitors and been hosted on reciprocal visits. We are so glad to have UCA Ministers who were born in the Philippines and bring their rich history and culture into our Uniting Church. The UCA-UCCP relationship has been healthy, robust and engaged.

We have also been long aware of the situation in the Philippines with police raids, false and contrived accusations, arrests and extra-judicial killings that take place in the Philippines, including UCCP pastors, community workers, social workers and others. The UCCP South Luzon Jurisdiction Area issued a statement stating: We declare and strongly condemn the harassment of church people who fulfil Christ’s teaching to “feed and care for his sheep”. Dom Helder Camara famously said: When I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist”. Even feeding and helping the poor in the Philippines can catch the attention of the authorities.

Some recent examples of harassment, accusations and police raids are in the attached letter. These actions sometimes lead to arrests, and on occasions extra-judicial (outside the law) killings.

On 15 April, Bishop Reuel Norman O Marigza, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, made the following plea: “We call on churches worldwide to be in solidarity with the Filipino people in the quest for justice and accountability in our community.”

In response, the President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Dr Deidre Palmer, stated, “I offer my support to our sisters and brothers in Christ in the Philippines and Filipino people here in Australia as they continue to struggle for justice, dignity and human rights for all Filipino people.”

What you can do.

Read the letter with specific recent examples and consider writing polite and respectful letters or emails (‘talking points’ to consider including are in the attached letter)

Her Excellency Mrs Ma. Hellen BARBER DE LA VEGA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Philippines
Embassy of the Philippines
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Salutation: Your Excellency
E-mail: cbrpe@philembassy.org.au

Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6100
Senate, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Salutation: Dear Minister