'He always knew that one day he would die a martyr . . . he wanted to die for Christ': a nephew of Shahbaz Bhatti.

In the video above a nephew and nieces of Shahbaz Bhatti speak about their uncle. His only sister and one of his brothers speak of their loss.

In the very worst of times in the history of the Church God has called certain individuals to the vocation of martyrdom. I believe that Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic politician in Pakistan, an overwhelmingly Muslim country, was one of those. Each martyr speaks to us of the Cross.

Two years ago on 2 March Clement Shahbaz Bhatti, a Catholic and the only Christian member of the Cabinet in Pakistan, was assassinated in Islamabad just after he had left his mother’s house. Recently Fr Tomás King, Coordinator of the Columban Mission Unit in Pakistan, met Gerard Bhatti, a brother of Shahbaz, and wrote this article, published in the current issue of Misyon, the online magazine of the Columbans in the Philippines of which I am editor.

Fr Tomás King and Gerard Bhatti

Shahbaz Bhatti was the youngest in a family one sister and five brothers. They were born in the Catholic village of Khushpur, near the city of Faisalabad in the Punjab. Khushpur means ‘Happy Land’. It was named after its founder, Father Felix, a Capuchin missionary, his name being the Latin for ‘happy’. The village was founded in 1900. It is one of 53 such villages founded throughout the country by various missionary congregations, mostly before the partition of 1947. The founding of these villages made a huge impact on the sense of dignity and self-worth of an oppressed group of people. Khushpur has produced two bishops and many priests and sisters. It is also the home of the National Catechists Training Centre.There are 300 families in the village.

Jaclyn, the only sister, was the first-born, followed by Paul, who was appointed Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs after the death of his brother, Peter, Gerard, Sikandar and Shahbaz, whose Christian name was Clement. The family owns four acres of land, now farmed by Sikandar. His mother is still alive while his father, Jacob, died only weeks before his martyrdom. Christian or ‘Western’ names were usually given by the missionaries. The two youngest children being given Sub-continent names maybe reflects the need to fit in as the country gradually became more Islamised.

Despite being implored to the contrary, in his 20s Shahbaz decided not to marry so as to devote his life to the struggle for human rights of the oppressed and for justice and peace, which wa a very counter-cultural commitment to make.

From an early age Shahbaz showed leadership abilities. Even as a teenager in high school he spoke out against the oppression of his Christian community.A defining moment in his consciousness seems to have occurred in his late teenage years when some Muslims tried to take over land owned by Christians. Then he started the Christian Liberation Front, the first of many organisations he was to either found or belong too.

He was committed to individual daily prayer as well as regular attendance at the Eucharist. Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd, was a favorite of his, especially in latter years when his life was under threat. This highlights an important dimension of inculturation in the Church in Pakistani, especially those coming from the Punjabi community: the Psalms were translated at an early stage into Punjabi and are sung like lively folk songs. They are deeply embedded in the spirituality of the people. Devotion to St Anthony of Padua is also an important part of the spirituality of Pakistani Christians.

Shahbaz graduated from high school in his home village. From there he went to the nearby city of Faisalabad for his pre-university courses, then to Lahore to study for a degree in science. All the time he was involved in human rights issues.

An exposure in Khushpur for journalists in the context of inter-faith affairs. It includes a visit to the grave of Shabhaz Bhatti.

In 2002 he was elected as a member of the National Assembly and became the first Christian to be a full federal minister after the elections in 2008. He used this position to campaign against the Blasphemy Laws, as well as dialogue with all people of good will committed to human rights and justice.

He knew his life was in danger and his family warned him many times and urged him to leave the country.He refused to do so. As a faithful disciple of Jesus who gave his life, Shahbaz too felt he must continue his struggle, no matter the consequences. He got to know deeply the meaning of the cross. He is considered a martyr by the Christian faithful and people pray to him, and some claim their prayers have been answered.  

Some people have been arrested but nobody has been charged with his murder. His life is symbolic of the bigger picture of the Pakistan reality.

In Khushpur, on the occasion of his second death anniversary there will be prayers memorials, programs and seminars in his memory. As years go by it is hoped that the significance and meaning of Shahbaz’s life and death will be understood more deeply.

When the government offered Shahbaz’s Ministry for Minorities Affairs to the family, they chose Paul as the oldest son to carry the vision and legacy of Shahbaz forward. Paul is a medical doctor by profession.

Gerard himself has received death threats by phone. He is actively involved in his adopted Cathedral parish of Hyderabad, many miles from his home village of Khushpur.

'I live for religious freedom and I'm ready to die for this cause.'

'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.' Sunday Reflections, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

An extract from Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth.[Today's gospel ends at 2:28.]

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Gospel Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 (Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition)

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed. 

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Scroll of the Book of Isaiah

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee St Luke tells us. Thirty years ago in the Diocese of Bacolod on the island of Negros where I now live in the Philippines the Spirit led nine men to jail, three priests and six laymen, all falsely charged with multiple murder. Fourteen months were to pass before the nine were released.

Two of the priests were Columbans, Fr Brian Gore from Australia and the late Fr Niall O'Brien from Ireland. The third was a diocesan priest, Fr Vicente Dangan, now deceased.

The six laymen, all working for the Church during the very difficult Martial Law years in the Philippines, were Jesus S. Arzaga, Peter Cuales, Lydio J. Mangao, Conrado Muhal (RIP), Geronimo T. Perez (RIP) and Ernesto Tajones. They became known as The Negros Nine and you can find their photos here. 

While the Negros Nine were in jail in Bacolod City the late Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich appointed the three priests as chaplains there. The vast majority of prisoners were from poor backgrounds and their cases were being constantly put back. The three priests, as well as ministering to the spiritual needs of the prisoners were able to get lawyer-friends to follow up on the cases of many of those languishing, wondering if they would ever get out.

As a result of this, many of them did. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives . . . to set at liberty those who are oppressed . . .

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I'm writing this on 25 January. Later today the 40th annual March for Life will take place in Washington DC. 40 = 55M says the March for Life website, indicating the 55 million babies who have been legally aborted in the USA since the Roe v Wade decision by the Supreme Court 40 years ago.

Last Saturday 25,000 turned out at a peaceful rally outside the Irish parliament in Dublin to let politicians know that they don't want abortion to be legalised in the Republic of Ireland.

One of the charges often made is that those who are pro-life when it comes to the unborn and abortion are really only 'pro-birth' and not interested in the lives of children once they are born.

My friend Lala and her friend Jordan, whom I also know, might dispute this if they had the ability to express themselves in such a way. Lala was left in a garbage bin after birth and raised by the Daughters of Charity in Cebu City. Lala was born with Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome) and Jordan with intellectual and physical disabilities. They now live in the L'Arche community near Manila. Over the years those who have chosen to live with Lala, Jordan and others for long periods, enabling them to live normal lives, have come from as far away as Germany and Japan.

Lala helping Jordan

The late King Baudouin of the Belgians, about whom I've written in the two previous Sunday Reflections wrote in a letter to a young mother about a children's party that he and Queen Fabiola had hosted: 

In one corner there was a group of handicapped children, several of them with Down's Syndrome. I brought a plateful of toffees to a little girl who had scarcely any manual control. With great difficulty, she succeeded in taking a toffee but, to my astonishment, she gave it to another child. then for a long time, without ever keeping one for herself, she distributed these sweets to all the healthy children who could not believe their eyes. What a depth of love there is in these physically handicapped bodies . . .

Lala and the little girl who astonished King Baudouin are truly sisters in Christ. He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. King Baudouin and the able-bodied children with whom the little girl with the disabilities shared her toffees were poor in spirit in the sense that St Matthew means in the first of the Beatitudes, ie, they knew their need of God. They recognised God's presence at the party, just as those who know Lala, especially those who live in L'Arche with her, recognise that the scripture has been fulfilled in their presence and is being fulfilled each day.

The Negros Nine were involved in organising Christian Communities where people would work together for the peace and justice that the Gospel demands in an area of awful poverty for many, poverty caused by greed. They suffered with the people because of the demands of the Gospel. Those of the Negros Nine who remain continue to work for justice and peace through the Negros Nine Human Development Foundation. Among other things the foundation is involved in trying to prevent the trafficking of women and minors. To set at liberty those who are oppressed . . .

While looking for a musical setting of the Entrance Antiphon I discovered Cantate Domino in B-flat, a setting of part of Psalm 96 (95) in Latin from which the Antiphon is taken, by Japanese composer Ko Matsushita. This came out of the Sing for Japan Choir Project, an international response to the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. I had not heard of Ko Matsushita nor had I heard of the Sing for Japan Choir Project. I discovered quite a few videos of Cantate Domino and finally settled on one featuring the Kaohsiung Chamber Choir from southern Taiwan.

The Entrance Antiphon is taken from Psalm 95 (96) 1, 6. The above is Cantate Domino in B-flat, a setting of verses 1, 2, 4, 5 ,6, 11 by Japanese composer Ko Matsushita. Verses 1 and 6 are highlighted.

Cantate Domino canticum novum,

cantate Domino omnis terra.
Cantate Domino benedicite nomini eius,
adnuntiate diem de die salutare eius;
quoniam magnus Dominus et laudabilis valde
terribilis est super omnes deos;
quoniam omnes dii gentium daemonia
at vero Dominus caelos fecit.
Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu eius, 

sanctimonia et magnificentia in sanctificatione eius.
Laetentur caeli et exultet terra
commoveatur mare et plenitudo eius.

Entrance Antiphon

O sing a new song to the Lord, 

sing to the Lord, all the earth. 

In his presence are majesty and splendour, 

strength and honour in his holy place.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor . . .

And in so many ways, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear, we can say with Jesus, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

'Charity' at the expense of justice

Thanks for your prayers during my retreat last week.

I made my retreat in Cebu City where I was based from 1984 till 1993. One of the city's daily newspapers is The Freeman and for a number of years I wrote a weekly column for it, Under the Acacia.

Yesterday's issue had a fine editorial about the low pay of health workers while the government gives dole-outs to people who are poor. I think a more accurate term would be 'politicians' rather than 'government' giving these. Politics here is basically a form of feudalism with wealthy families holding power, sharing out offices between relatives and being 'generous' to people who have nothing but who will vote for them when they get something.

No doubt, the editorial is trying to make a political point but it raises a basic issue, one of social justice. the Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks about that here. Recently one of the dailies where I live featured an article about Operation Smile. The article was uplifting until it informed the readers that a woman who had had an operation courtesy of Operation Smile when she was a child was able to fulfil her ambition to become a nurse. But this 30-year-old fully qualified nurse is now working as a 'volunteer', ie an unpaid professional worker, in a government hospital in her local town. I wrote a letter to the paper pointing out that the many such 'volunteers' are basically slaves. The paper didn't publish my letter.

It is this kind of terrible injustice that The Freeman editorial is about.

The video above - thanks to Jane Frances on the Association of Catholic Women Bloggers - is related to the topic of the editorial.

Meanwhile, countless Filipino nurses are enabling people in such places as Ireland and Britain to have health services that they and their families back home can only dream of. I know that the Irish and British have legitimate criticisms about these services but they are far superior to those available to most Filipinos. The reality is that the poor of the Philippines are subsidising the health services in many Western and Middle Eastern countries. the vast majority of nurses come from families of very modest means, families that sacrifice much to put their sons and daughters through school.

Florence Nightingale (1820 - 1910)

EDITORIAL - Government inhumanity is corruption as well 

Former senator Ernesto Maceda is right in his Philippine Star column of November 29. If the Aquino administration can give billions of pesos in cash doleouts to the poor, why can it not give meaningful and beneficial salaries to the health workers who serve them?

Philippine government health workers — doctors, nurses, midwives, and health aides — receive among the most ridiculously low salaries in the world. Their monthly salaries cannot even pay for one dinner at some fine restaurant that high government officials frequent.

So negligent and cavalier has government been toward workers in the public health sector that there was a time when nurses worked without pay as volunteers, with government accepting the practice until it became such a hot issue in media.

But when it comes to the poor who do not even pay taxes, government is very liberal in giving cash doleouts, for reasons that are purely political — the poor are not likely to bite the hand that feeds them.

So ridiculous has the situation become that the monthly cash doleouts given to the poor who do not pay taxes are even higher than the monthly allowances barangay health workers receive before taxes. [Note: the barangay is the basic unit of local administration in the Philippines and may be a village or a district in a city or town.]

After taxes, government health workers are left with virtually no means to keep body and soul together. And yet this negligent, unconscionable and politically-motivated government keeps constant pressure on the public health sector to perform and deliver above-par.

How this government appreciates the value of its health workers speaks a million times louder than the motherhood statements it pays about straight and narrow leadership and ethical governance.

Neglecting health workers in favor of the poor from whom political favors can be curried during election time is a far worse form of corruption than stealing or taking money. Crippling the dignity of people steals the most basic sense of humanity from them.

Despite whatever hardships come their way, low pay or none, being far away from home or whatever, Filipinos have a remarkably hopeful disposition, rooted, I believe, in the Catholic faith of the majority, a belief in God's love for them. Here is a group of Filipino nurses doing a traditional dance at a programme in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A prince known for his sense of justice and for his purity

St Casimir (1461-1484) was a prince who is now the principal patron saint of Lithuania and also a patron of Poland. The reading from the Office of Readings for his feast, which in Lent is observed as a commemoration, in other words it is optional, taken from a life of the saint, 'written by a close contemporary', highlights some of this young man's deeply Christian qualities.

• He dedicated himself completely and entirely to Christ's poor, to the pilgrims, the sick, the prisoners,and to all in distress.
• To widows, orphans and the oppressed, he was not only a protector and defender, but a father, son and brother.
• Nor is it possible to tell or even imagine the extent to which he promoted justice and exercised temperance, or the prudence with which he was endowed, or the strength and constancy of is character, and that in an age of permissiveness, when men were very much inclined to fall into evil ways . . .
• Day by day her urged his father to rule the kingdom and the subject peoples with justice . . .
• He took up the causes of the poor and wretched, and followed them up as if they were his own. Because of this the people called him the defender of the poor . . .
• It was always his preference to mix with the poor and the weak . . .
• He never sought the power which belongs to men of the highest rank . . .
• We have the word of important and trustworthy men, who were close to him and in whom he confided, that he lived as a virgin all his life, and died a virgin.

We have elections here in the Philippines in May for everything from the presidency down to local councillors. It is difficult to find evidence of the virtues of St Casimir among the candidates for the major offices. A convicted but unrepentant plunderer, who has never served a day in prison for his crimes, who uses a false name and was pardoned by President Gloria Arroyo, who succeeded him when he was deposed, is running for president again. Three of the Marcos family, who destroyed the Philippines during the Marcos dictatorship, are running for office and the 84-year-old president of the Senate, the architect of Marcos's Martial Law and who tried to bring the scouting movement directly under the control of the military in 1985, is running again for the senate.

One of the things that happened during Martial Law was the forced sterilisation of many women after they gave birth in government hospitals. The Population Commission at the time was pushing a very aggressive population control programme at the time. It was widely believed that each government hospital had a quota of sterilisations that they were expected to meet. Husbands weren't consulted and wives often made decisions that they later regretted because they were under pressure from those who should have been taking care of them.

On the other hand, government doctors and nurses are poorly paid. Today, many fully qualified nurses who cannot afford to go overseas where they will get jobs with decent pay, often have to offer their services as 'volunteers' in government hospitals.

There is no question that many Filipinos have a strong Catholic faith. Many died during the Martial Law years in witness to that. But there is a woeful absence of a sense of  the justice the Gospel demands, especially when it concerns the poor and the good of the wider community, as shown in the Human Face column of Ma. Ceres P Doyo (photo) in today's Philippine Daily Inquirer, Confessions of a highwayman. You can also find the article on Ceres' own blog, Human Face by Ceres. Ceres is one of the best journalists in the Philippines.

Should Catholics Be Environmentalists?

Here is an excellent article by Ronald J. Rychlak, professor of law and associate dean at the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is the author of Hitler, the War, and the Pope (2000) and Righteous Gentiles (2005). It is taken from Catholic Culture.

Professor Rychlak shows how popes have been teaching about the ijportacne of our caring for the earth, not only for ourselves but for future generations, since Pope Leo XIII's landmark encyclical on social justice, Rerum Novarum, in 1891. He begins thus:

After the Vatican recently hosted several international conferences on the environment and environmental problems, headlines reported that the Catholic Church is finally jumping on the environmental bandwagon. They were wrong on two counts. First, Catholic teaching has long been that care for the earth is both a duty that we owe to God and a reflection of our respect for each other. So, the Church isn't some Johnny-come-lately to protecting the planet. Second, the Church's understanding of what it means to be a good steward is not precisely in line with the thinking of many modern environmentalists. You may read the whole article here.

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WELCOME to www.negrosnine.com
Official website of the Negros Nine Human Development Foundation, Inc.

This website has been set up to continue the work of 'total and integral human development' that began in the 1970s on the island of Negros in the Philippines during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The story of the Negros Nine symbolises the struggle of the poor for a better life in a safe and sustainable environment i.e, 'total and integral human development'.