A Passionist Martyr of Justice, Fr. Carl Schmitz, CP

In February of 2005 Sr. Dorothy Stang, SND was martyred by two men in Brazil. She worked tirelessly protecting an indigenous community in the Amazon forest and protecting the rainforest from the ecological devastation of deforestation. The local indigenous community had been intimidated by wealth ranchers and logging companies that wanted to destroy this essential natural resource for the purpose of financial profit. Sr. Stang organized the local community by promoting education and projects of sustainable development. By 2005 wealthy ranchers felt that her organizing power went to far and paid two men to have her murdered.

Her martyrdom has raised the issue of protecting the Amazon rainforest and as a result the government of Brazil has adopted strict environmental enforcement policies that are being monitored by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources. Her congregation has vowed to continue her vital ministry and they remained involved in promoting land reform and ongoing projects of sustainable development.

Sr. Stang highlights an emerging face of Catholic Martyrs, martyrs who die in the service of the Gospel’s challenge to protect the dignity of marginalized people and the integrity of creation. Sr. Stang’s story is awe inspiring but it is not an isolated story. Many other missionaries have also given their lives and paid the ultimate price for preaching the Gospel of life and justice. In preaching this Gospel they challenge a global economic market system that is driven by easy and unethical profit making. What is impressive with Sr. Stang is how her community mobilized itself to continue promoting a ministry that they saw as a vital expression of modern evangelization.      

The Passionist of Holy Cross Province also has a modern martyr of the Gospel message. Fr. Carl Schmitz, CP was a Passionist priest who grew up in Chicago and who became a dedicated missionary serving in the United States and then in the Passionist missions in China, Japan, and the Philippines. By 1976 Fr. Carl was driven to preach the Gospel to a poor indigenous community in the Philippines known as the Bila’ans. They are a tribal mountain people of 80,000 who lived on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. He was sent to work with the mountain people in a rugged jeep. Clambering hand over foot along muddy mountain paths, sleeping on dirt floors in thatched huts, he struggled to learn a new dialect and be a sign of God’s love to these people.

The Bila’ans were an abused people who had been displaced from the lowlands to the mountains where it was hard to find suitable land for their small gardens. Murder and burning of properties were rampant. Violence was constant. Fr. Carl found himself as chief negotiator for peace and an advocate for the Bila’an people.

Two serious issues faced the missionary. Paramilitary forces in the area often turned out to be bandits who used young Bila’ans as their agents in illegal logging and rustling water buffalo. When Fr. Carl discovered that going on, he would head up the mountains, find his people, persuade them to go to the coast with him and seek amnesty.

The New Peoples Army (Communist) was another problem. Young Bila’ans often saw the NPA as a way to gain back their stolen lands. Fr. Carl tried to persuade his young men to leave the rebels and seek amnesty.

His activities did not make him popular with the paramilitary. On April 7, 1988 Fr. Carl had brought six young Bila’ans who were involved with paramilitary activities to his out-mission at Bolul. He planned to take them from there to the authorities the next day. The paramilitary were probably uneasy, fearing some action could be taken against them.

Determined to stop Fr. Carl, they got a young Bila’an, Johnny Monday, half drunk. Handing him a Garand rifle they told him to kill Fr. Carl. Some teachers at Bolul, who were housed close to Fr. Carl’s rectory, tell us what happened then.

The half-drunk Johnny Monday lurched into Bolul and stopped at the bottom step of the thatched rectory.

He shouted: “Get out here Fr. Carl, I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

“Take your time, Johnny, I’ll be there.” Carl came out and stood at the top of the steps about 10 feet from Johnny Monday, who continued to shout: “I am going to kill you, Fr. Carl.”

“Why would you do that, Johnny?”

“You are a bad man–you give money to the Communists.”

“You know better than that, Johnny, I take care of my poor. Just this afternoon, I paid for your wife’s medicines.”

“You’re smiling, Fr. Carl, you are never going to smile again.”

The first shot went through the Fr. Carl’s mouth and killed him instantly. Johnny Monday then emptied the magazine and tore his body apart.

A tragedy? Yes.

But for Fr. Carl, it was a missionary career crowned with martyrdom for justice. He loved the Bila’an people and would not allow them to be corrupted by the paramilitary, who were often bent on illegal logging and the rape of the virgin forests. Quite aware of the risks he was taking, he saw the face of Christ in his people and he knew the blood of Christ was shed for them. He was Passionist and missionary through and through, and malicious men brought him to a martyr’s death.

The Passionist community like the Sisters of Notre Dame will continue to uphold the brave Christian witness and sacrifice from these modern martyrs of economic globalization. With the Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Office the Passionist are creating a network of solidarity for all lay and vowed members of the Passionist family who faithfully preach the Gospel of justice in places that continue to challenge our most basic Christian values.

2 Responses to “A Passionist Martyr of Justice, Fr. Carl Schmitz, CP”

1. david stang says:

   July 15, 2010 at 1:22 pm

   Thank you for reminding us of these great martyrs! I am sure their families also show their love and support for their beliefs and for their communities. Sadly, the corruption and destructive behaviors that exits in these countries continue. These martyrs’ strong actions for the poor should be immediately proclaimed by our Church!
   David Stang
   David Stang
2. John Gonzalez says:

   July 15, 2010 at 1:43 pm

   Thank you David for reminding us of the great dedication and sacrifice that their families make as well. We pray that their memory will continue to a transformative power in our world. Peace, John