CBCP appeals to BI to reconsider leave order vs Australian nun

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday, April 27, appealed with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to reconsider its order against Australian nun Patricia Fox to leave the country. (Photo by Roy Lagarde/CBCP News)

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday, April 27, appealed to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to reconsider its order against Australian nun Patricia Fox to leave the country.

In its second statement regarding the situation of the nun, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, CBCP president, said that the prelates were “truly saddened by this turn of events.”

“In this recent development, we sincerely make an appeal that the authorities may make a reconsideration of their order for Sr. Patricia Fox to leave the country,” Valles said in a statement.

“Without entering into the merits of both parties in the case, this is for the proper authorities to decide. But this we say: We believe in the sincerity and dedication of Sr. Patricia to serve our people. We believe further that she is moved to serve our people by the love of Christ,” he added.

Fox on Wednesday, April 25, was ordered by the BI to exit the country within 30 days for supposedly engaging in “partisan political activities.” The bureau forfeited her missionary visa and deactivated her alien certificate of registration.

“With a hope for a reconsideration regarding the BI’s order after giving Sr. Patricia a chance to explain herself again, in a spirit of dialogue, could she be given a chance to stay and continue serving our people?” Valles asked.

“We continue to pray for the Lord’s enlightenment for all those who are involved in this case, but in particular, we continue to pray for Sr. Patricia Fox—for her health and well-being,” he further said.

The 71-year-old nun, who only heard BI’s decision through the media, said she still hopes for an opportunity to explain the importance of her mission in the Philippines.

Looking back at the nearly three decades helping peasants and indigenous peoples (IPs) in the country, Fox said that whatever happens, she will be “forever grateful” to all those Filipinos that she calls as her friends.

“I may lose my right to be in the Philippines, but I can never lose the learnings and beautiful memories,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Despite this expulsion order against Fox, BI spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang noted that the missionary nun can still enter and leave the country but only as a tourist.