
This year’s “Traslacion,” or the annual procession of the Black Nazarene — the statue of Jesus of Nazareth carrying his cross toward Calvary for his crucifixion — again reminded us of the serious injustice that true Christians are suffering today. The revered image shows Jesus as a person with dark skin; it identifies with people of all races and skin colors in saying all are his friends and followers. The Black Nazarene can be seen as a powerful statement against racist attitudes, as well as of support for the Aeta people, the original inhabitants of the Philippines who are unjustly discriminated against.
Many devotees believe coming close to the statue could bring a miracle. The only miracle we need is for the conversion of all who claim to be Christian but ignore the suffering of the oppressed and abused children. We all can stand in defense of victims of human rights violations that persist today. We could have a procession every month in every diocese for peace in support of the victims of the so-called war on illegal drugs and their families, of murdered human rights workers and environmental defenders, and of journalists shot dead by state-sponsored death squads for they died defending the poor and for speaking and writing about the truth.
The true Christian strives to imitate Jesus and takes action, as he did, to help victims of human rights violations, including sexually abused and exploited children. The true Christians will report and never cover up crimes against children. The fake Christian hides the truth, lacks the courage to help these victimized children and follows the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:6 to hold the abuser to account for crimes against a child.
Jesus took an unshakable stand for the dignity of all persons, especially women, children, the poor and the exploited. He challenged the authorities who had desecrated the temple courtyard by turning it into a marketplace, from which the priests and elders benefited. For that, he was marked for execution.
Jesus also took upon himself the words of the Prophet Isaiah (Luke 4:16–19) and began his mission to free the oppressed from poverty, give sight to the blind (to the truth and to human rights violations), and liberate the unjustly imprisoned and declare that God will free his people.
In the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), Mary said that God would scatter the proud in their conceit, bring down the mighty from their thrones, lift the downtrodden, and fill the hungry with good things. Jesus would establish the Kingdom of God on Earth, where equality, social justice, respect and love of neighbor would change the lives of all, and peace would reign. His disciples were to be as humble and innocent as a child (Matthew 18:1–5). And he called all to be servants of the poor and washers of feet like himself (John 13:1–21).
Catholicism in the Philippines and some of its leaders have little interest in defending human dignity and against the violations of people’s rights — the same as those Jesus suffered. The shameful silence and inaction encouraged the regime to continue the killings.
The few courageous bishops and priests who protested the violations stood and supported the victims’ families. So-called death squads murdered as many as 30,000 Filipinos. Suspects were tagged and branded as illegal drug users or subversives without evidence or trial and shot dead. Millions of Catholics approved of their silence. It is a dark shadow hanging over the nominally Catholic nation. Did the Church challenge the regime and its leader and hold mass processions to demand an end to the killings?
Pope Francis made the right choice in elevating Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David to the rank of cardinal for his defense of victims of state terror and extrajudicial killings. Such crimes are still being committed. Pope Francis knows it, saying: “[While] many live in wealth, many others see their dignity ignored, despised or trampled on and their most basic rights ignored or violated.”
Pope Francis said his thoughts and acts of support were with those who “are subject to acts of intolerance, discrimination and violence because of their racial, ethnic, national or religious affiliation.” He added that he couldn’t forget the victims of armed conflict “while unscrupulous death merchants are enriched at the price of the blood of their brothers and sisters.”
Human Rights Watch has said the human rights situation in the Philippines remains dire, with extrajudicial killings and attacks on activists and journalists still ongoing. All this while the International Criminal Court is investigating Rodrigo Duterte for the killings in Davao City when he and his associates ruled the city and later when he was president. I had campaigned against the killing of street children in Davao and was accused of libel, brought to court by the city mayor, but I won the case. Likewise, speaking out and exposing child sexual abuse in Olongapo City resulted in a court case against me at the Bureau of Immigration. I fought back and won that case, too.
We can do our duty, stand against human rights violations and win. The few strong bishops and priests fighting for justice have a faith that will one day move mountains of evil, convinced that truth, goodness, justice, freedom and love of neighbor will overcome evil.
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This column was first published in The Sunday Times (www.manilatimes.net) on January 19, 2025. Print, digital, and online republication of this column without the written consent of the author and of The Manila Times is strictly forbidden.