Philippines bishop’s murder linked to criticism of government
-04/10/06
As concern con
Philippines bishop’s murder linked to criticism of government
-04/10/06
As concern continues about the death and mistreatment of church and human rights workers in the Philippines, news of the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento of Tarlac, former Prime Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church, or Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), has been greeted with sadness and concern
Bishop Ramento was found stabbed to death at his rectory on the morning of 3 October 2006. The initial police report said that he may have been killed by robbers, but others suspect that Ramento, an outspoken critic of the Philippine government, could have been the victim of a political killing, the Manila Times reports.
“The true circumstances are still unknown though the initial report describes it as a robbery with homicide,” according to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente website.
Those who knew Ramento and his advocacy work for peace and human rights joined in mourning his death, while vigils have been planned in Tarlac and at the cathedral in Manila.
The Rev Winifred Vergara, missioner for Asian American Ministries in the Episcopal Church, was a priest in the IFI and remembers Ramento as “a prophetic voice in the Philippines” even after his retirement. “He was very bold and always standing up for the oppressed and struggling for a free, humane and just Philippine society.”
“How terrible that this bold church leader should lose his life as a victim of a crime. But if his death is attributable to the foes of justice, how much worse,î declared Canon Margaret S. Larom, director of Anglican and Global Relations for the Episcopal Church USA.
[Also on Ekklesia: Philippines churches demand no return to martial law 30/09/06; Philippines churches appeal to UN on human rights abuses 28/08/06; United Methodists ask Bush to help stop Philippines killings 23/08/06; Methodist missionaries call for end to Philippines killings 19/08/06; British MP shocked at mining destruction in the Philippines 15/08/06; Church worker killings continue in the Philippines 10/08/06; Catholic bishops accuse Philippines government of ‘dirty tricks’ 27/07/06; Churches seek investigation into Philippines killings; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Catholic bishops in Philippines speak of imprisonment fears; Da Vinci code provokes debate in traditional Philippines; Call to catch killers of Philippines church workers; Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups; Methodists call for end to killings in the Philippines; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Act on civilian deaths, churches ask Philippines government; Asian churches to challenge violence against children; Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses]
Philippines bishop’s murder linked to criticism of government
-04/10/06
As concern continues about the death and mistreatment of church and human rights workers in the Philippines, news of the murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento of Tarlac, former Prime Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church, or Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), has been greeted with sadness and concern
Bishop Ramento was found stabbed to death at his rectory on the morning of 3 October 2006. The initial police report said that he may have been killed by robbers, but others suspect that Ramento, an outspoken critic of the Philippine government, could have been the victim of a political killing, the Manila Times reports.
“The true circumstances are still unknown though the initial report describes it as a robbery with homicide,” according to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente website.
Those who knew Ramento and his advocacy work for peace and human rights joined in mourning his death, while vigils have been planned in Tarlac and at the cathedral in Manila.
The Rev Winifred Vergara, missioner for Asian American Ministries in the Episcopal Church, was a priest in the IFI and remembers Ramento as “a prophetic voice in the Philippines” even after his retirement. “He was very bold and always standing up for the oppressed and struggling for a free, humane and just Philippine society.”
“How terrible that this bold church leader should lose his life as a victim of a crime. But if his death is attributable to the foes of justice, how much worse,î declared Canon Margaret S. Larom, director of Anglican and Global Relations for the Episcopal Church USA.
[Also on Ekklesia: Philippines churches demand no return to martial law 30/09/06; Philippines churches appeal to UN on human rights abuses 28/08/06; United Methodists ask Bush to help stop Philippines killings 23/08/06; Methodist missionaries call for end to Philippines killings 19/08/06; British MP shocked at mining destruction in the Philippines 15/08/06; Church worker killings continue in the Philippines 10/08/06; Catholic bishops accuse Philippines government of ‘dirty tricks’ 27/07/06; Churches seek investigation into Philippines killings; Church leaders call for change in the Philippines; Catholic bishops in Philippines speak of imprisonment fears; Da Vinci code provokes debate in traditional Philippines; Call to catch killers of Philippines church workers; Philippines ceasefire a sign of hope, say aid and mediation groups; Methodists call for end to killings in the Philippines; Christian charity says children still illegally imprisoned in the Philippines; Act on civilian deaths, churches ask Philippines government; Asian churches to challenge violence against children; Ecumenical loan fund backs Philippines small businesses]