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| Appeal for HELP, The Order of St. Aelred by Mr. Oscar Atadero PROGAY Philippines abOUT Fr. Richard Mickley... God has blessed our community in 1991 when Fr. Richard Mickley came here at the invitation of a group of gay and lesbian people and decided to start a ministry for our LGBTI community in the Philippines as a missionary. I first met this dynamic motivator, mobilizer and inspirational speaker in 1993 when I was looking for a safe place for a closeted gay person that I was then. In my mind, he proved to be a tireless organizer of activities for the good of our local queer community. In many ways, he has helped to convert public opinion from one where gays are openly despised as sick immoral animals to one where, admittedly, still homophobic but at least more accepting and less strident against anything bakla(gay). Through his television appearances thousands have come to know there is an alternative to regarding homosexuals as "sinful." He founded the Order of St. Aelred in 1995, a simple monastery in Manila where he hoped to get together religious gay friends to worship in freedom and dignity. He wrote articles in the gay and lesbian newspaper Manila Out, articles that helped soothe the weary minds of gay and lesbian Filipinos. Appeal for Help: If the gay community were a nation, he would be a national treasure. But late last year, his valuable work was almost disrupted when the government's Bureau of Immigration said that his missionary visa had expired. He was first advised to prepare to leave the country. Then he was told he can apply for a permanent residency status if he can raise the required investment of $40,000 or if he can prove that his work or fame contributes to the national welfare. You in the gay community and other non-gay persons and groups responded with a tremendous effort of writing appeals to the government. We sent the bureau our written prayers for the government to consider Fr. Mickley qualified for the permanent visa in November last year. After a tense waiting period, when we were not sure if the government would give importance to our cause, the bureau awarded Fr. Mickley a permanent visa. Imagine the strain that his Filipino lover felt over the prospects of being separated from him. Now, they can continue being a model couple for many gay Filipinos. He can now continue his thankless job of providing help to still many people through the prayer groups, the Counseling hotline (433-7277), the Gay Men's Support Groups, the same-sex weddings, and many other services. But Fr. Mickley's problems do not end here. Even if the bureau waived the investment quota of $40,000, he racked up quite a big sum of administrative expenses. On top of having been made to do a lot of filing, paperwork, interviews and going around our community circles to raise interest in his plight, he was charged sizeable amounts of fees and penalties. Fr. Mickley only depends on a small Social Security pension which all go to maintaining a rented house that serves as a monastery and supporting the various projects he carries on for the community. During his struggle to solve his immigration problems, most of that pension was taken away from the rent and other operationals. The Order of St. Aelred is now deep in debt to the tune of about P20,000. It needs to retire much of its debts so that it can focus on providing spiritual nourishment to our gay and lesbian people, strengthening the counseling hotline, and mobilizing more volunteers to help the others who are not yet reached by the monastery's ministries. I personally believe that we should help Fr. Richard Mickley so he can help many others. I am asking you to share in that belief Appeal for Donation & Support: I ask you to come up with your generous offerings that would redound to the good of the queer community. For Bank Account Direct Deposit BANK NAME : Equitable PCI BANK, Philippines ACCOUNT NAME : Treasurer Mr. Simeon M Arias for Order of St. Aelred. ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0369-03145-7 For Other forms of Support and further Inquiry: Perhaps you prefer to hand your help directly to Father Richard and talk with him about the many services the Order provides the LGBTI community. TELEPHONE NO. : (632) 433 7277 MOBILE/CELL NO ; 0916 305 8521 eMAIL Address : [email protected] We have the power of love and mutual help in the gay community. Let it overcome the tides of homophobia and discrimination as we rally around Fr. Richard Mickley. In solidarity, Oscar Atadero ProGay-Philippine |
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| The Order of St. Aelred Appeal for Donations Contact Details: Fr. Richard Mickley / Mr. S. Arias Tel No. (632)433-7277 / Mob. 0916-3058521 Email: [email protected] |
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