The Faith-based Against Immoral Debts (FCAID) is a three-year old network of faith-based groups and individuals who envisions a debt burden-free society. Currently, it is on its second phase with the project, “Walking with the Poor: the faith-based sector as a voice of the voiceless for the country’s liberation from immoral debts.”

Debt is an issue that has been the root cause of worsening poverty and as a result brings about crises. For some, debt should be left within the realm of economic planners and managers. However for FCAID, debt is not simply a question of economics but more so an ethical and moral one. Therefore, debt is within the realm of the faith-based to address. It talks about not only forgiveness and charity but justice. Dependence on borrowings can impede a nation’s well-being and spiritual life.

In fact, it is an issue recognized in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. Debt in Scripture is mentioned mostly in contexts where the poor get indebted and are rendered vulnerable to lender abuse. It is assumed that there will always be poor in the land who, because of various misfortunes, are driven to seek relief in loans, subjecting them to exploitation and eventually, in extreme cases, slavery.

Debt as a priority of the faith-based community has taken a backseat for quite sometime now despite its importance. If the community is really serious about addressing poverty, then it is time to answer the hard questions, choose to side with the people and not maintain the status quo. Respond to the root cause of the problem, understand the issue, speak and advocate about the debt. As a network, we believe that the influential voice of the faith-based community is needed more than ever to amplify the voice of the poor, marginalized and affected communities, provide an alternative faith-based analysis and speak-up on the issue.

With that belief, the network developed a training module on the Immorality of Debt and used it for developing possible advocates.

However, we need more advocates who are willing to spend time and effort in working on the campaign and convincing others to join the cause so that the community can be a formidable voice on the issue.

The concept of immoral debts was specifically developed for the faith-based community to understand the relationship between debt and the possible harm it can do to people once governments become dependent on it.

For this specific training, we invite individuals who preferably came from the faith-based community, both the Catholic and Evangelical/Protestant, but also including leaders from indigenous peoples community to share on indigenous spirituality (i.e. catechists, JPIC and/or Social Action coordinators, Religion and/or Theology professors, Sunday school teachers, lay/parish leaders, religious/diocesan priests, nuns, pastors, Catholic school student council leaders, IP leaders). However, we are also inviting those who have experiences and are involved in social movements such as CSO advocates, which is one of the additional criteria. We also need participants who can represent his/her organization. Lastly, the network is on the lookout for participants who are willing to become real advocates who will work for the advocacy/campaign. Each organization is allowed to send two representatives at most to participate in the training.

The two-day training will be held on November 29-30, 2011, Tuesday to Wednesday at the BEC Development Center, Bgy. Asisan, Tagaytay City, Cavite. The training is free including transportation from Manila-to-Tagaytay, Tagaytay-to-Manila. However, transportation expenses of participants coming from provinces are not included in the package. We hope the organization that decided to send-in regional participants can take-on that expense as their counterpart/initial commitment to the advocacy.

The training is a very useful tool for understanding further the issue of debt – basic debt situation how does it relate to important issues like poverty and environment, the culture of Filipinos on the debt, its faith-based perspectives and how the faith-based community can help as debt advocates.

Attached with this letter is the tentative program of the two-day training and the participant’s registration form.

Should you have further inquiries about the event, please contact Jofti Villena (09088945174).

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