War on drugs a Challenge to Catholic Faith
by Fr Shay Cullen
The Good Samaritan (after Delacroix), Vincent Van Gogh, 1890
Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo, Netherlands [Web Gallery of Art]
The Catholic Church- and that means not only the leadership but the People of God who believe in Jesus of Nazareth and his teaching on the sacredness of life, mercy, compassion and understanding- are challenged in this day by the war on drugs. God’s people in the Church needs to take a stand with and reach out to those in need of healing, care and help. Drug dependents are the victim attacked by bandits and was cared for by the Good Samaritan on the road to Jericho.
The Philippine Church and every one who considers him or herself a Catholic is challenged by the commitment and fiery words of President Duterte to continue his war-on-drugs and remove as many suspects as possible.
Few can doubt the dedication and commitment of President Duterte to rid the Philippines of the drug menace,. According to a United Nations report, the Philippines has one of the highest use of illegal drugs in Asia. The Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board estimates there are 1.8 million drug dependents in the Philippines.
The true Christian believers in Jesus of Nazareth and his teaching of justice, mercy, repentance and forgiveness with penance must think about the moral issues of this campaign and its methods of killing the suspects without evidence or trial is a big challenge to the Catholic Church. It is a call on the conscience and the integrity of the institutional leaders and the People of God everywhere and especially in Asia and the Philippines to take a stand on this.
Eighty percent of the population can be said to be Catholic and perhaps 60 percent know and believe in the commandment, “Thou shall not kill.” They believe they must act and speak to protect life, practice love and mercy, to heal the wounded, has compassion, justice and forgiveness. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you is at the heart of the message. Jesus in Matthew 25 said we will be judged by the love and compassion we show to the hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless and those we visit in jail. What we do to them we do to Jesus of Nazareth.
Full post on Preda website.