MANILA, Philippines — A retired Catholic prelate on Monday criticized the reported inclusion of Bibles in relief goods distributed at evacuation centers for displaced residents of Marawi City.
“If they (donors) do it deliberately, it’s either an insult or ignorance of the needs of the Muslims,” former Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla said in an article posted on the news website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Reports over the weekend indicated that Bibles translated into Maranao were included in goods given to evacuees in Iligan City.
Capalla said “proselytizing” shows a lack of respect and casts doubt on the sincerity of supposed acts of charity.
“If you want to help, then give only the needs of the Muslims … the basic needs like clothing, food, water, among others,” said the co-convenor of the Bishops-Ulama Conference.
“We should be more sensitive. They should also ask Muslim leaders what to give in that area of religion,” he added.
