An Open Door and Home for Victims. Reflections No 490, 18 June 2010

An Open Door and Home for Victims
Fr Shay Cullen's columns are published in The Manila Times,
in publications in Ireland, the UK, Hong Kong, and online.

Displaced people near Pikit, North Cotabato © ICRC / J. Tanner 

Not long ago, I was asked to write an article on a Papal apostolic prayer. I used to think of such prayers as long and windy, padded with unpronounceable words and hardly intelligible. This one is different: 'That the church may be a home for all people, ready to open its doors to any who are suffering from racial or religious discrimination, hunger, or wars forcing them to emigrate to other countries'. Editor's note: This is the Pope's missionary intention for August this year.)

A woman and her family in a camp for displaced persons near Darfur, Sudan. © ICRC / B. Heger

In a few words, it sums up a vital aspect of the mission of Jesus Christ - that all people, of all races, colour and creeds would live in harmony in one family under God's care and protection as if in a loving home. Its doors were to be open to all who come with good intentions, the sick, the hungry, the refugees, the asylum seekers, those deprived of dignity, the downtrodden wretched of the earth, the abused and victimized of this world. The door is open to them day and night and also to sinners to repent and to come asking forgiveness and willing to accept penance.

Four of more than 1.2 million people have fled the fighting in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, since the end of 2007. © ICRC / C. de Keyzer

This openness came from the mission of Jesus and is reflected in the prayer, it is to bring life and salvation to the victims of all kinds of human rights violations. The insistence by Jesus that all persons are equal in God's kingdom, that all are God's children, loved equally and without discrimination, caused him to be castigated and falsely accused by the religious authorities of his day.

Jesus wanted heaven on earth, and end to injustice, hunger and discrimination and he prayed that His Father's will 'be done on earth as in heaven'. So the kingdom of justice that Jesus wished for all mankind was for this life, not only in the next life, and the privileged ruling authorities in Jerusalem were all too aware of the power of that message and of its impact on and danger to them.

ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross)  President Jakob Kellenberger listening to civilians housed at a collective centre in Tbilisi after fleeing the fighting in Georgia..17.08.08. ©ICRC/J. Björgvinsson

Jesus brought into the world a new life-changing set of values centered on relationship between God and humankind. It uplifted knowledge and awareness of the dignity of the individual as one of God's children with inalienable rights. That was two thousand years ago. How beautifully it is expressed in the Magnificat and the Sermon on the Mount. Yet all such life-giving human rights values were from time to time suppressed by church and civil authorities alike throughout periods of history.

In fact its only in this generation we see the prayer being more fully answered in unexpected ways and venues. These human values and rights are being recognized in international law by the United Nation's conventions and protocols and many nations are incorporating them into their laws and practice. We see the International Criminal Court holding accountable the perpetrators of heinous and unspeakable crimes against humanity. Universal justice is spreading at an increasing pace.

Respect for individual and community rights and values are slowly being implemented and empowering individuals and communities and organizations to work for the transformation of their own societies.

Flight into Egypt, Adam Elsheimer, 1609

We see too the challenge that lies ahead as some nations are oppressive and discriminatory to asylum seekers and refugees fleeing violence and economic hardship. Openness to and a fair sharing of a nation's resources and wealth with the poor and exploited have to be fair and balanced. The rich nations are rich because of colonial exploitation and today through globalization. All Christians need to revive their sense of mission, put their faith into action and deeds, and work to make that prayer a reality today. END

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
Contact Fr Shay Cullen at the Preda Center, Upper Kalaklan, 2200 Olongapo City, Philippines.
Email: preda@info.com.ph

~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
PREDA Information Office
PREDA Foundation, Inc.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
www.preda.org