Catholic church apologizes to indigenous peoples for 'sins'

[sharkey360]

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Catholic church apologizes to indigenous peoples for 'sins'

Citing the “sins" it committed against tribal communities, the Catholic Church begged for forgiveness from the indigenous peoples (IP) and pledged to do everything possible to protect them.

The Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said the church apologizes for having disrespected other cultures in the past through acts such as the colonization of native peoples.

“As we continue to welcome IPs into the Catholic community, we ask forgiveness for suppressing their spirit as a people and the moments when we injured their personhood as they took on a new identity as Catholics," CBCP Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples chairman Bishop Sergio Utleg said in an article on the CBCP news site on Wednesday.

Utleg particularly apologized for moments when the Church entered native communities “from a position of power, indifferent to their struggles and pains."

“We ask forgiveness for moments when we taught Christianity as a religion robbed with colonial cultural superiority, instead of sharing it as a religion that calls for a relationship with God and a way of life," he said.

The Church and various indigenous communities marked October 10 as Indigenous People's Sunday in Baguio City.

However, most of the activities of this year's event, with the theme “Healing for Solidarity: Asking for Forgiveness for Sins against Indigenous Peoples," were held at the Baguio Cathedral. The activities ended on Tuesday.

Meanwhile a group of IPs accepted the church’s apology as it noted that unity can be the “strongest asset of the indigenous peoples to change the flight we face."

“Learning from past mistakes forges stronger ties ... Together with the Filipino people, the Church and indigenous peoples can work for a peaceful future," the group Katribu said in a statement.

Tong-tongan, bodong

The “tong-tongan" reconciliatory rites and other tribal rituals were also held at the Baguio Cathedral on Monday.

Officiated by elders, tong-tongan is one way of settling land disputes in the town of Buguias in Benguet province in northern Luzon.

Majority of the IP participants from different dioceses across the country cited the following among their major concerns:
# the continuing encroachment of mining ventures into their ancestral domains, and
# the assault of indigenous cultures.

The half-day reconciliatory activity also paved the way for the presentation of
agreements and exchange of gifts, followed by the celebration of the Mass.

Some bishops earlier asked the Truth Commission created by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to look into “environmental crimes" also.

A “bodong" (peace pact) ritual, popular in the neighboring Kalinga province in the Cordilleras, was also held on October 12.

During the ritual, the “hurts" caused by the church was expressed by the representatives of the IPs. Representatives of the Church then asked the IPs for forgiveness.

The ritual was followed by a presentation of certain points of agreements, consisting of the calls of the IPs to the Church.

An exchange of symbolic gifts to each party concluded the rite followed by the celebration of the Eucharist.

“This is evidently the beginning of a long-term process of dialogue between the Christian faith the way of life of the indigenous peoples," said Tony Abuso, program coordinator of the ECIP Secretariat.

The dialogue is expected to lead to a “change of heart, ways of thinking, discernment, and theologizing, as well as, paradigm shifts in approaches and pastoral programs of the Church," he said.

Utleg also said the Church and government can work together to help solve the concerns of the tribal communities through consultation and a continuous cultural exchange.

Catholic church apologizes to indigenous peoples for 'sins' - Nation - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

[Tirong-say]

It's simply the significance of convertion that drives them to act as such,
it's just a matter of trying to save someone's soul,
engulfed by such a scheme, they were then swayed to forgot that culture and identity,
is still there to make that person a person in this world.

[bcasabee]

The Church can only do so much. But if you noticed, the best schools and hospitals in the country are ran by religious orders.

[johnny22aa]

a noble and humbling one.

[hush232002]

nasad argumento nasad ni!!!!flame bait namn sad ni oi! nganu hilig man kau mo mo post ug issues about religion/church esp.the catholic church? unya ingon dayon way but.anay kay opinion ni nako? mao na?toink! wa lagi kau thread diri about protestant church? ngano kaha?

[vipvip68]

nasad argumento nasad ni!!!!flame bait namn sad ni oi! nganu hilig man kau mo mo post ug issues about religion/church esp.the catholic church? unya ingon dayon way but.anay kay opinion ni nako? mao na?toink! wa lagi kau thread diri about protestant church? ngano kaha?

Philippines - 85% Catholics with Cebu at 93%+ Catholics...

The Church apologizing for past sins is nothing new... since sauna pa man na' sila sige ka sayop.

Maybe decades from now, mu apologize na sad ang church for what they're doing now...

[hush232002]

Philippines - 85% Catholics with Cebu at 93%+ Catholics...

The Church apologizing for past sins is nothing new... since sauna pa man na' sila sige ka sayop.

Maybe decades from now, mu apologize na sad ang church for what they're doing now...

trying to start something? "mu apologize na sad ang church for what they're doing now....?" hehehehe!not interested.

[FAQ]

Now the church has apologized .. it would be great if they leave the natives alone!!! Don't ever come near the reserves..

[SioDenz]

The Church can only do so much. But if you noticed, the best schools and hospitals in the country are ran by religious orders.

and the most expensive one..

[RMK711]

How about the sins of landgrabbing committed during Spanish times? Puwede pa to ipang uli?