METROPOLITAN ARCHDIOCESE OF CACERES
Elias Angeles St., Naga City
Philippines
25 December 2008
His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City
Your Holiness:
We are writing to you on a problem that may very well be beyond your immediate and urgent concerns, perhaps even too parochial as to reach your most august office. But our sense of hopelessness, after having tried our best to no affect, to deal with this problem within our means through proper channels, has pushed us to come to you for consolation.
We are referring to the intransigence of the Philippine Government in allowing a multinational company to continue an open pit operation on a small island (Rapu-Rapu, Albay, Philippines ) in the Diocese of Legazpi, within our ecclesiastical province, in spite of our appeals to have it stopped because of its destructive consequences on the island and its surroundings.
Even prior to the commencement of operations, various environmental groups have already opposed the project based on findings of many scientific investigations that declared the island unsuitable for mining because of the potential ecological damage it can bring into the island. Indeed, the island is geographically situated in such a way that it is constantly vulnerable to typhoons and heavy rain. Considering further that the island is made up of such hilly terrain of steep slopes scientists warned that the mine could have direct and long term environmental impact on the island through acid rock drainage and toxic discharges.
Opposition to the project grew all the more after two mining tailings spillage of October 11, 2005 and October 31. 2005, causing massive fish kills in and around the island. Most affected by these incidents were the Diocese of Legazpi and the Diocese of Sorsogon. During the General Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines January 2006, the Rapu-Rapu mining case, along with other mining projects in the country causing environmental problems, were brought to the attention of the bishops. The bishops swiftly decided to issue a pastoral letter appealing to the Philippine Government to impose a moratorium on mining activities. They even went as far as recommending the repeal of the country’s Mining Act of 1995.
As if listening to the recommendations of the bishops, the Philippine President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, appointed Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon to head a "Fact-Finding Commission" to investigate on the Rapu-Rapu mining accidents of 2005. Composed of scientists and mining experts, the Commission soundly recommended the closure of the mining facility on the island, again on the basis of its natural unsuitability for mining, and after the Commission found the mining facility and actual operations there not measuring up to safety standards. The Commission’s recommendations, however, have been swiftly cast aside
Following resumption of mining operations on the island, protest actions mounted. This time, the Catholic Church has come to the forefront. In particular Bishop Lucilo Quiambao of the Diocese of Legazpi, who, aside from issuing a pastoral bulletin calling for a stop to mining on Rapu-Rapu, joined public protest rallies making the same demand. The Bicol Bishops lent their support and issued a statement in November 2007, supporting the resolution of Rapu-Rapu Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council), declaring a state of calamity on Rapu-Rapu Island . They appealed to the local and national government agencies to heed the voice and clamour for help of the people of Rapu-Rapu, calling on them to act in the best interest of the people and to adopt measures that would address their needs as a result of the environmental damage mining has caused on their poor island.
All of these however, Your Holiness, have fallen on deaf ears. We dare not seek your intercession for obvious reasons, particular1y the sensitive political protocol it would involve. We are aware that we should be guided by your words that "Building a just social and civil order…as a political task….cannot be the Church’s immediate responsibility." (Deus caritas est, #28). "The Church," as you further said, "cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible." (ibid.) Yet again, "...since it is also a most important human responsibility, the Church is duty-bound to offer, through the purification of reason and through ethical formation, her own specific contribution towards understanding the requirements of justice and achieving them politically."(ibid.)
In writing this letter to your Holiness, we your brother Bishops of this far-away land, simply wish to share our pains with our Father, in the conviction that in this we would somehow find a sure source of hope, seeing this pain as a one rich variety of ways by which God makes His presence known to us.
With profound gratitude we remain
Very respectfully yours in Christ,
MOST REV. LEONARDO Z. LEGASPI, OP, D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres
MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES, SVD, D.D.
Bishop of Sorsogon
MOST REV. MANOLO A. DE LOS SANTOS, D.D.
Bishop of Virac
MOST REV. GILBERT A. GARCERA, D.D.
Bishop of Daet
MOST REV. LUCILO B. QUIAMBAO, D.D.
Administrator of Legazpi
MOST REV. JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D.
Bishop of Masbate
MOST REV. JOSE R. ROJAS, JR, D.D.
Bishop of Libmanan
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