Yes, April 13, 14 and 15 see Buddhist New Year. It is meant to be a lovely time of coming together and paying dutiful respect to your elders. Instead in Thailand it has become one almighty water warfare on the streets. So I exited and went to the Philippines for New Year.
I must say that I love the Philippines and Filipinos but my time was a 'halo halo' time - a mixed experience.
As I went around my small section of Manila in the centre of town, I saw mixed messages. I saw more and more people living on the streets. I could see evidence of the increasing poverty in the country. Then as I approached the Church, what I saw was the overpowering message of an institution exerting its power to stop the Government's Reproductive Health Bill. Where was the Church's message on poverty and suffering in its own country?
These mixed messages made me feel angry inside as I saw a lovely people suffering more and more under poverty and injustice and what was the Church's focus? - no condoms! It makes me angry as I hear no great Church outcry over the plight of the mass of poor in the Philippines. I also see the hypocrisy of the institutional Church as I see no great response to the reality of more and more children living on the streets.
I won't say much more as I want to allow room for reflection and just present my take on what is happening.
Mabuhay!
I am John Murray, an Australian, Catholic priest of the Order of St Augustine. I live and work in Thailand and have been here since October 2005. I have many stories from my life journey and would simply like to share some of them. So hope you enjoy and go away sometime with a smile or a helpful little insight.
We gather
to give thanks for my 25 years.
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