The church as an institution can bring change to the society with its far-reaching link with all sectors, Columban priest Fr. Brian Gore said in a talk at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Saturday.

Revisiting his experience as Prisoner 30855 of the celebrated Negros Nine case in the 1980s, Gore said the church was then responding to the crisis of the times when human rights and dignity of the poor were easily trampled on.

The social dimension of the ministry of the church, then very active during the 1980s, has somewhat died down at present with emphasis on ecclesiastics instead of social responsibility and awareness, Gore said.

He added that peace experienced at cemetery is not peace at all and peace advocates who take on active non-violence as a way of responding to aggression, should be ready to take the risk of sacrificing their own lives.

Gore said the challenge to the church is to be more responsive in addressing the present problems affecting the lives of the people in Negros which has worsened since the 1980s.

While he acknowledged the importance of forming Basic Ecclesiastical Communities to strengthen the worship ministry of the church, said formation of Kristianong Katilingban (Basic Christian Communities) is more holistic and it embraces the mission of the church as the refuge of the less privileged and powerless.

With fellow priests Fr. Niall O'Brien, Fr. Vicente Dangan and six lay workers, Gore was imprisoned at the Negros Occidental Provincial Jail after eight months of “house arrest” for the murder of Kabankalan Mayor Pablo Sola and his four companions.

Although the New People's Army claimed responsibility for the crime, Gore said they were charged for multiple murder, inciting to sedition, and illegal possession of explosives and ammunition.

During the trial of the case, evidences presented against them by the prosecution were five bullets and a hand grenade, he added.*NAB

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