My Memories of Martyr for Peace
Published in The Universe
(September 16, 2001)
I sat with my friend and classmate Father Rufus Halley in the quite chapel of the Columban fathers house in Manila several weeks ago. It was the last time he shared his worries about the death threats That overshadowed his life. I understood him all too well as I have had my share, and many other missionaries too who work for justice and peace in that strife torn land where oppression of the poor was and is our greatest concern.
Father Rufus was brutally gunned down on his way back to his
parish last Tuesday 28th August by unidentified killers. The news shocked me to
the core; I still can't get over it. Everyone who knew him mourn the loss of a
God centred and terrific person. Rufus was a deeply spiritual person, he prayed
longer and harder than I ever have. I should know we were classmates for more
than six years at the Columban Missionary society in Dalgan Park, Navan.
We were ordained together and assigned to the Philippines thirty years ago. His
life was one of simplicity and living close to God. He was constantly
overwhelmed by the inordinate wealth of the industrialised nations in a world of
abject poverty.
His life and love were the people of Mindanao, Christians and Muslims alike. His
commitment to peace and reconciliation between the communities is a lasting
legacy of heroic sacrifice. His life was frequently on the line as he risked
himself to bring the presence and peace of Christ to communities racked by
family feuds and military oppression. He stood with the Muslim families that
suffered from the atrocities committed by the Philippine military.
About eighteen months ago two villages in his parish had been burnt to the ground. There were hundreds of homeless refugees had been abandoned and children were dying of hunger and disease. No one was Helping until Father Rufus was there for them. He risked been labelled a traitor, or branded as a 'Muslim sympathiser' and blamed for giving comfort and aid to the "enemy" as the military considered them. Father Rufus spoke against the violation of their human rights and refused to say mass for the military at the height of the campaign especially when they had their own chaplains.
He wisely saw the invitation as a tactic by the military to compromise him before the Muslim community and reduce his influence among them. The Muslim people had made him their friend; he was trusted and was invited to be a "go-between" to solve family feuds. They sent their children to his school where they were respected and treated equally and justly.
It was a brave and courageous stand for him to take. He knew it was dangerous. He had offended the military commander and caused him a great loss of face and humiliation. He wrote a polite letter of explanation that was published in the Manila dailies. I doubt if it assuaged commander's anger, whose psycho-warfare tactic had backfired.
The police and military authorities will find it rewarding to
blame the Muslim separatists or a Muslim kidnap gang for this execution. They
may even find a Muslim suspect and witnesses. We have to be sceptical about
these official scenarios branding the killing being the work of a kidnap
gang of separatists Muslims who allegedly shot Fr. Rufus
When he supposedly refused to go with them.
He was respected by them and would be at his ease with them, he spoke the languages with fluency and could even turn the situation to his advantage. He would see it as a God sent opportunity to integrate himself into their lives, persuade them of the value reconciliation and peace.
At one time Fr. Rufus became a local shop assistant to a Muslim family to integrate all the better into the Muslim community. He spent days with a sick Muslim woman in the government hospital until she recovered; his life was for both Christian and Muslims. They bore him no ill will.
But a direct shot to the head is an execution style death
that is not unknown to be carried out by shadowy "official" death squads that
operate freely in Mindanao and elsewhere in the Philippines. Someone had a
grudge .This bore all the marks of a revenge killing by a powerful and dangerous
person. The report of a military truck in the vicinity gives more reason to
question the official story.
The death of Father Rufus is a terrible crime and a great loss to all of us. I have felt the fear brought by death threats myself and do my best to keep out of harms way. Rufus courageously went back to a dangerous situation to be with his people. He returned to the simplicity of serving the poor, standing with the oppressed and being a happy and fulfilled human being. He had nothing of his own but a powerful faith and consuming love of God which he shared to all the wretched of the earth, the throwaway people, the poor and forgotten. He will never be forgotten.
