MANILA (UCAN): In a first, several non-Catholic Christian denominations in the Philippines have pledged to join and support the Catholic observance of Red Wednesday, on November 27.
Among those who plan to attend the event are leaders and members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.
Red Wednesday was started by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the pontifical charity organisation, to create awareness about the severity of Christian persecution.
“It’s not only Catholics being martyred. There are other Christians martyred and they are evangelicals, Orthodox and Protestants,” said Jonathan Luciano, ACN’s Philippine director, during a media briefing in Manila on November 20.
“We will pray ecumenically and ask the Lord to help us and give us strength in the face of persecution,” he said, noting that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, with about 300 million Christians persecuted in 2018.
“They don’t have the freedom to practice their faith,” he said, adding that Filipinos are “fortunate because we are a majority Christian nation.”
He said “We are free to practice our faith without fear of being killed or threatened. That’s why Red Wednesday is a call for us to be in solidarity with Christians not as fortunate as us.”
Some Christians, however, also experience persecution, especially in the southern part of the Philippines. In some areas, they are not allowed to hold religious processions or early-morning Christmas Masses.
“Sadly not all Filipinos are aware of this,” said Luciano. “Let Red Wednesday be the start for Filipinos to lend their voices to the global call to uphold religious freedom and advocate for interfaith harmony.”
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
More than 2,000 parishes across the Philippines intend to take part in this year’s observance to show solidarity in the campaign against religious persecution.
Red Wednesday will also signal the start of the Year of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue in the Philippines.
