Homage to Sr. Dorothy
by Dom Erwin Krautler, bishop of Xingu

Dearest brothers and sisters of Our Lord, Jesus Christ,

We are commemorating the third anniversary of the death of our Sister Dorothy.  On February 12, 2005, she was brutally executed.  During these three years I have asked many times why a sister who dedicated her life to the poor and accompanied their struggle for dignity, for justice and for the most basic rights of having land for planting and gathering, why this sister of the poor suffered such a cruel death.  The answer is simple and we all know what it is.  By putting herself intentionally on the side of the miserable, those who are excluded from the savage, capitalistic system that dominates our region, she opposed the interests and the ambitions of an oligarchy that wishes to take possession of the Amazon and enjoy its resources without any concern for the consequences to future generations.  Their motto is “take advantage while you can” and whoever stands in the way of this greed, risks their life because the representatives of this voracious system of the Amazon react and conspire immediately against anyone who does not think the same way.  Dorothy was the victim of her love for the Amazon.  Because of this love she lost her life.

The political class made itself present on the day of the funeral of our Sister.  Anapu [a small town in the equatorial state of Pará] never saw so many senators and deputies, either from the federal or state level.  Today, I am convinced that the majority of those who were present at that funeral came because of the media coverage of that sad event.  Those authorities who cried alongside of the casket wanted to show to the world that they were not in league with the death and violence in the Amazon.  But they never showed the courage and boldness necessary to make any real changes.  They have not truly changed and they have a merely economic idea for the development of our region.  [This form of development] thinks only in immediate profits and intentionally ignores the irreparable harm that is being done.  It leaves to future generations to deal with the calamity caused in our times.  It is abominable for this generation to neglect its children and grandchildren, disinheriting them by depriving them of the basic conditions for survival.

In past months we were repeatedly shown that the Amazon is exposed to suffering unprecedented damage.  The ambitious Acceleration of Growth Plan (PAC – Plano de Aceleração do Crescimento) looks to improve the infrastructure of transportation, communication and energy in the region.  At first sight the plan seems favorable to the region.  However, it brings in its belly a threat of destruction of the greatest tropical forest in the world.  Not only are there attacks from the landowners who despite being fined continue on just the same with the slash-and-burning, there is also the exploitation by the loggers that have been taking millions of trees, they continue to cut down, saw and secretly transport hardwoods, on top of all of this destruction already going, the construction of dams and the extension of power lines will fatally lead to a general deforestation.

Sister Dorothy is dead because she cried out against these environmental crimes that very soon will do damage to the habitats of the people of the Amazon.

It is offensive and dishonorable that the second verdict of the accused, confessed Rayfram was invalidated; he alleged that “when he executed the nun, he was threatened by 50 armed men, the tenants of Dorothy Stang”.  It is incredible up to what point the defense lawyer will go and more incredible still is that he is not imprisoned for having rashly accused the farmers of PDS of being “gunmen”, comparing them to the criminals who killed the sister.  And worse, thanks to this intervention the trial was overturned!

What kind of justice is it that suddenly reverses the roles, imputing criminality to the poor sister who spilled her blood and alleging a legitimate defense to the assassin who fired five shots into a defenseless victim, whose only weapon was a holy Bible?

What kind of justice is it that after three years still has not succeeded in completing the enquiries or even closed them for reasons that are never going to persuade us?

What kind of justice is it that postpones from year to year the proceeding against top people suspected of ordering the crime?

What kind of justice is it that never took seriously the existence of “a criminal conspiracy” in this land?

The Gospel proclaimed on this day (Mt. 6:5-14) comes from the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus teaches his disciples to pray.  It is the prayer par excellence of the Church and all Christians.  Each verse deserves a special meditation; each word is most sacred and touches our heart.

In the context of this holy Mass in which we are remembering the third anniversary of the death of Sister Dorothy, let us choose the petition “your kingdom come!”

We are born into this world, but we are citizens of another world.  We are called to work together for the construction of a kingdom that is not of this world, but is for this world.   This mission is in no way easy.  We are sent “as sheep among wolves” (Mt 10:16; Lk 10:3).  Many people reject the message that we want to announce.  They do not just reject it, but they want to do away with the message and the one who announces it.  But in this vicious world we hear the words of Jesus: “the servant is not greater than the master.  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (Jn 15:20).  The kingdom is a divine gift, it is a grace of God, but that does not relieve us of our commitment.  What characterizes every Christian is perseverance in the midst of adversity and in confronting hatred and violence.

Brothers and sisters are falling, executed, by the followers of a system of iniquity, but they believe in the Kingdom of God and in its justice, and they neither vacillate nor tremble.  The spilled blood of Sister Dorothy, . . . and of so many others throughout this Amazon is fertile seed that multiplies in the countless brothers and sisters who continue on the Way, wagering on the better future of the kingdom, believing in the final triumph of Christ, never backing off and, if it is necessary, they are prepared to give even their own life.

“Your kingdom come!”  The kingdom of truth and life, kingdom of holiness and grace, kingdom of justice, of love and of peace.  Amen.

Source:  Adital, www.adital.com.br

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