UCAN Interview - FABC Human Development Pioneer Cites Cardinals' Work, Interfaith Partnerships Among Federation's Gains
Jul 21, 2007
Retired Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, former head of the FABC Office of Human Development, names Japanese Cardinals Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi and Stephen Fumio Hamao among Asians working zealously for human development.
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (UCAN, 20/07/2007) -- Retired Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, former head of the FABC Office of Human Development, names Japanese Cardinals Peter Seiichi Shirayanagi and Stephen Fumio Hamao among Asians working zealously for human development.
On July 12 Bishop Labayen spoke with UCA News from his residence in Antipolo City, east of Manila, after Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University announced its award for Maryknoll Father Edward Malone, first assistant secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
In electing the American missioner to receive the Bukas Palad (open hands) award, the university cited his "significant contributions" to the development of the federation.
FABC Secretary General Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato is scheduled to accept the award for Father Malone on July 25 at a Special Academic Convocation at the university's Quezon City campus, northeast of Manila.
Father Malone, 81, returned to the United States in 2004 after serving more than three decades as FABC assistant secretary general, based in Hong Kong.
Bishop Labayen speaks in the interview about the award, the work of Japanese Cardinals Shirayanagi, 79, and Hamao, 77, in human development, and the FABC's Office of Human Development (OHD), which he served 1972-78 as its first chairman. The FABC was formed in 1972.
In the interview, the bishop recalls his experiences with Cardinal Shirayanagi, retired archbishop of Tokyo, who was president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan 1983-1992. The cardinal established the Japanese bishops' Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace.
He also chaired the Japanese bishops' Episcopal Commission for Social Activities, which dealt with issues such as the plight of refugees, basic policy for foreign aid and Church opposition to discriminatory legislation.
Bishop Labayen said he was impressed also by Cardinal Hamao, the former auxiliary bishop of Tokyo and later bishop of Yokohama, who also served as bishops' conference president. After eight years heading the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, the cardinal now serves as board member of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
During his years with the OHD, Bishop Labayen co-founded the Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) to work with people of various religious in Asia and Australia on the challenges of poverty, war and other social issues.
In 1973, the Carmelite bishop helped organize various Catholic Church development agencies into the Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD).
As retired prelate of Infanta, Quezon province, 70 kilometers east of Manila, Bishop Labayen addressed a 2003 gathering of bishops in Europe about what Churches in Europe can learn from Asia and other younger and poorer Churches.
At 81, the Filipino bishop offers spiritual advice and direction to members of Agri-Justice Manila farmers' NGO, the Movement for Nationalist Economy and other NGOs working for social development and reform.
The UCA News interview with Bishop Labayen follows:
UCA NEWS: What is the significance of Father Malone's award for the Church in Asia?
BISHOP JULIO XAVIER LABAYEN: The FABC, which Father Malone helped build, brought together bishops' conferences throughout Asia, and that's why it has become influential. The bishops realized Churches in Asia in countries with different cultures have to come together and discover how they can relate with one another. With FABC, bishops have learned to respect the cultures of fellow bishops and to practice ecumenism.
What is a concrete example of this "coming together"?
Let me give you a personal example. Through my involvement with FABC I got very close to (then) Archbishop Shirayanagi. Another bishop in the 1970s in Tokyo archdiocese told me FABC also made him feel "very challenged." Soon, this young bishop would be seen in pictures in the streets of Tokyo with a bullhorn to his mouth promoting justice and peace. The young Auxiliary Bishop Hamao of Tokyo was later made cardinal and assigned to social-justice work in Rome.
Were the two future cardinals involved in FABC social-justice work when you headed OHD?
Yes, I worked with them on justice and peace. But one thing I overlooked when I was head of the Office for Human Development was the importance of bishops' experience of poverty. Later, a priest from Holland, Father Bill Roetenberg, a sociologist, recommended that I ask the bishops to, as much as possible, have an experience of living with the poor. So I went around promoting this program among the bishops. I myself lived among squatters in southern Sri Lanka. And this was how Bishop Hamao was converted.
What do you mean by "converted"?
I am not sure what he was involved in before I met him, but after living with the poor, I think it was in Sri Lanka also, he returned to Tokyo zealous about justice and peace work, and promoting the mission of the Church.
What drew Asian bishops to unite?
All the bishops of Asia met for the first time here (Manila) in (University of) Santo Tomas in 1970. That was historical. What really highlighted it was Pope Paul VI's visit. That was the first time that the pope set foot on Philippine soil, and it really gave value to this meeting of the Asian bishops.
When we organized, we chose to call ourselves a federation because we respect the autonomy of each bishops' conference. We believe that bishops must contribute to the FABC accordingly, to share what they have. We come together as partners under this federation so we can act in unison, guided by one vision.
Earlier, in 1967, Pope Paul VI issued an encyclical, Populorum Progressio ("On the Development of Peoples"), that addressed the impact of globalization and liberal capitalism on Third World poverty.
Did this inspire the formation of OHD?
OHD was formed to help the bishops promote human development in Asia. Human development meant we had to focus on the poor and work for justice and peace.
What are signs of growth of the Church through OHD?
Well, you know that Office for Human Development was able to move into ecumenism, and that is how we were able to bring together different groups who were not part of bishops' conferences but were essential to human development. We later formed the separate group Asian Cultural Forum on Development, whose office was in Hong Kong. I was the head of it, and I am still honorary chairman. It was to promote the culture of Asia. It came out of FABC, and Father Malone helped make such initiatives possible. This way OHD and FABC opened up to a real ecumenical dimension.
The Asia Partnership on Human Development is another development that came out of FABC initiatives on human development.
Later, Australian bishops also began a bond with Asian bishops. I received feedback from Australia saying some organizations got involved in the FABC movement through OHD, believing in what FABC is promoting, mainly dialogue with culture, religions and the poor.
What was Father Malone's role in this development?
You know, Father Malone is known to have really promoted this orientation and the vision of FABC. It was part of the mission spirit of Maryknoll. That's where he stood out. It was his vocation as a missionary. He was very zealous and faithful. He was effective.
What is the challenge to the FABC today?
FABC head Archbishop Quevedo is an Oblate missionary. He has also this mission spirit. How the FABC will fare today depends on how widespread his contacts will be, and whether FABC can make the best out of social communications and media.
UCAN Interview - FABC Human Development Pioneer Cites Cardinals' Work, Interfaith Partnerships Among Federation's Gains