Bishops, Ulama gather in Zamboanga City

Catholic and Protestant bishops and Muslim Ulama will gather in Zamboanga City from November 12 to 14 for their 41st general assembly.

Organized on 29 November 1996, the 45 official delegates of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) will visit the areas where the recent violent standoff took place between the armed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels and government troops.

As spiritual leaders they will ascertain the truth of the violent skirmishes and its horrifying casualties. They will then reflect on the situation in relation to the peace process and the responses of the central Government.

Through prayer they will discern on their immediate role particularly in the present situation in Zamboanga and generally in the peace process in Mindanao and around the country.

It should be noted that the BUC was organized to help in the implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement between the Government under President Fidel V. Ramos and MNLF under Chairman Nur Misuari. This help was to promote through interfaith dialogue the correct understanding and living out of Christian and Islamic values by the implementers, supporters and recipients of the Agreement. (dcherald)