Church workers are elated over the recently-issued order of the Department of Justice, dismissing the Bureau of Immigration’s decision to cancel the missionary visa of Australian nun Sr. Patricia Fox.
In a statement, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Bureau of Immigration’s decision “is beyond what the law provides, that is why it has to be struck down.”
Sr. Pat, as she is fondly called by friends and fellow church workers, has been in the Philippines for the past 27 years.
As part of her missionary work and advocacy as well, she lived in solidarity with poor peasants and urban poor communities.
No less than President Duterte himself said he ordered for the arrest of Sr. Pat on April 16 and described the missionary as “foul-mouthed.”
Still, Sr. Pat earned the support of many who rallied behind her as she fought her way to stay in the Philippines and continue to carry out her missionary work.
“Sr. Pat is an inspiration to many church workers whose mission is to serve the poorest of the poor and to help amplify their voices as they seek redress for genuine social change,” said Bishop Ronel Fabriquer, chairperson of the RPRD board.
Bishop Fabriquer said that while church workers welcome the DOJ decision, “we hope that this will lead to the end of series of attacks and persecution of church people.”
Under President Duterte, four members of the clergy were killed. The trumped-up charges against IFI’s very own Bishop Carlos Morales, who is currently out on bail, has yet to be dismissed.
He said, “the Church will continue to be of service to the poor. We will not be cowed.” (RPRD News)
