Former Catholic Nun Talks of War and Immigration at Seattle Baptist Church

Former Catholic Nun Talks of War and Immigration at Seattle Baptist Church

by AJLPP-USA Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 at 12:37 PM
magsasakapil@hotmail.com 213-241-0906 337 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

guest speaker, Sister Florchita Bautista discussed her reflections at the University Baptist Church before an audience of fifty people last Sunday, August 5. Bautista cited the cases of human rights violations in the Philippines, specifically, stories of the grade three pupil Grecil who was shot by military men and was even accused of being a member of the rebel group New People’s Army, and that of Alice, the wife of Dr. Chandu Claver whose family is in Canada now seeking political asylum. Alice got eight bullets from the military operatives in Kalinga, northern part of the Philippines. Like many activists, Alice before her death was very active with progressive organizations that are fighting for the rights of the indigenous people over their ancestral lands and was critical of the corrupt policies of the government.

Former Catholic Nun ...
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Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace
Press Release
Aug. 7, 2007


Former Catholic Nun Talks of War and Immigration at Seattle Baptist Church


Seattle, Washington-- “In those days He will settle disputes among great nations. They will hammer their swords into ploughs, and their spears into pruning-knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again.”

So says the Sunday Scriptural reading from which the guest speaker, Sister Florchita Bautista discussed her reflections at the University Baptist Church before an audience of fifty people last Sunday, August 5.

Bautista cited the cases of human rights violations in the Philippines, specifically, stories of the grade three pupil Grecil who was shot by military men and was even accused of being a member of the rebel group New People’s Army, and that of Alice, the wife of Dr. Chandu Claver whose family is in Canada now seeking political asylum. Alice got eight bullets from the military operatives in Kalinga, northern part of the Philippines.

Like many activists, Alice before her death was very active with progressive organizations that are fighting for the rights of the indigenous people over their ancestral lands and was critical of the corrupt policies of the government.

After the service and during the lunch, Bautista signed the second edition of her book, “Leaping into the Unknown,” and showed the Canadian film, which she co-produced and co-directed: “When Strangers Re-unite.”

She discussed the abuses suffered by the Filipina domestic helpers under the hands of their Canadian employers. The Canadian government promotes the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), much like a “guest worker program that some leaders in the US government are supporting.

Several immigrant communities in the US are currently terrified due to the raids, detentions and deportations being conducted by the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

Local progressive organizations, the Church Council and other peace groups in Seattle will hold a press conference on Aug. 14 demanding among other things a moratorium on such raids.

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