Manila (AsiaNews) Mgr Fernando Capalla, Archbishop of Davao and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said he was very happy and satisfied to hear about the renewed peace talks between the Filipino government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF). He added that only "repentance and forgiveness" can bring about good results to the negotiations.
"With the court case against former MILF leader Hashim Salamat dropped, the separatists are now grateful to the government and convinced of its sincerity in the peace process," Archbishop Capalla said. "Given the atmosphere of sincerity and enthusiasm on the part of both government and the MILF," he stressed, "and the expressed assurance of support from the new prime minister of Malaysia," talks towards a first peace deal can be expected to proceed apace. In addition to sending observers, the Malaysian government has offered a neutral location to hold the negotiations.
In a statement released to the press and directed at both government and separatists the Bishops-Ulema Conference, which is chaired by Archbishop Capalla, reiterated what it considers some of the talks' priorities. "Civilian and religious leaders should have a greater role at all levels of the negotiating process. Mindanao's indigenous peoples (collectively known as Lumad) should have a greater voice as well. As taught by both the Qu'ran and the Bible, social healing should be achieved through repentance and forgiveness for," as Archbishop Capalla pointed out, "economic projects alone cannot heal the wounds of war."
Archbishop Capalla is currently visiting the US as an invited guest of Card. Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York. He will give a series of talks on Muslim-Christian relations in the Philippines and will take part in a Muslim forum organised by the Filipino Consulate in New York.
Archbishop Capalla is also the honorary president of the New York-based World Conference on Religion and Peace and in his US visit he hopes to tell his audiences of his "very enriching experiences in ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue with Protestants and Muslims in Mindanao."
Next Sunday Archbishop Capalla will be the main celebrant at a mass commemorating the feast day of the Philippines' own Saint Lorenzo Ruiz in New York's St. Patrick' Cathedral. "In New York," the Archbishop said, "there are many Filipino immigrants who are very active in Catholic parishes. They play a vital role in the multicultural life of the New York Church."