by Sherry Zimmer
OPEN LETTER TO CARDINAL TAGLE
Exactly four years ago today,
July 3rd 2014, one of your priests. Fr. Shay Cullen of Preda Foundation
in Olongapo, had me hauled from my farm in Bgy. Aningway-Sacatihan,
Subic, Zambales.
I have written to you, the Superior General of
the Columban Order, Fr. Kevin O’Neill, none of you have answered my, or
my friends’ emails for help. Pope Francis was contacted within days of
my ‘arrest’, he has not responded either.
One of my early
visitors, when I was in detention, was Edward Robinson III who
introduced himself to me as being from the U.S. Embassy in Manila. I
sat and told him my side of the story. I remember telling him of my work
with sick, particularly the Aeta. I told him how I had supplied
Cullen’s construction workers with free drinking water for three years
and taken care of some of the men who had been hurt on Cullen’s
construction site.
He took a picture of me and I really thought
he would help me. He did not and it was only after I obtained a copy of
Cullen’s badly written book, ‘Passion and Power’ that I read, he was a
personal friend of Cullen’s. He was a retired, Naval Commander who
Culllen had stayed with in Hawaii in 1988.
Cardinal Tagle, I have
watched a video of you with Stephen Sackur of BBC, you nodded your head
when Cullen’s name was mentioned. You know who he is and how your
predecessor, Cardinal Sin, protected him from the rape charges of a
7-year old girl.
Cardinal Tagle, this is the letter I wrote, two years ago, to your friend, the Head of the Columbans.
Dear Fr. O'Neill,
I am Lilian 'Sherry' Zimmer nee Thomson, my name has been vilified over
the internet, newspapers and television by one of your priests, Shay
Cullen. I was incarcerated in the Olongapo jail for 126 days, the only
Causcasian woman in conditions that I would not give to an animal.
Your priest thought that if he could get charges filed against me that I
would remain in the Detention Center for years, the key thrown away. I
would die there. Cullen expected that I would have no way to get out of
that situation. He had me charged with 5 counts of kidnap/illegal
detention, one charge of child abuse and with threatened cases of more
abuse.
I am a Catholic, Scotswoman who is now 67 years old, my life
in the Philippines was dedicated to quietly taking care of people who
were unable to take care of themselves. I wanted no awards, raised no
money except from friends and family. From me there was no criticism of
the system as it pertains to the Philippines. I never expected to be
arrested, incarcerated, my five children taken away as trophies, me to
be dragged out of my little farm in handcuffs. Everything I owned, my
reputation to be destroyed by Cullen.
All the proof that I need
to exonerate me, I have. My years in the jungle of taking care of
people, taking in babies that were not convenient, were sick or
unwanted, were all of the mission that I was known for until Cullen
decided that he would move within 100 meters of my home.
I am
sure, I was an embarrassment to Cullen, I did what we, as Christians,
are supposed to do. I gave up my large home in America and sold nearly
everything I owned. I followed what I thought, and the Bible taught me,
was the way to go. I had Faith that what I was doing was what was
required to get through the Gates of Heaven. I have Faith that you will
listen to me and read my evidence, see my photographs and videos of what
I was doing in my small mission.
My website was launched last night,
lilianmaythomsonzimmer.com
and is already going around the world. Please take the time to look at
it. It includes the Rape of A Child by Shay Cullen, The Victor
Fitzgerald Case, The Von Ballmoos Case, Patients, Medical Missions and
Christenings. etc. It is easier to see on a computer as there are lots
of legal documents and statements written by people long before I came
into contact with Cullen.
Father, there is also an investigation
going on in the Philippines and I write to you so you will not be
blindsided by the interest that is being taken in the behavior of Shay
Cullen.
I have written to you before I contact His Holiness Pope Francis.
Pray for me because this is a harder mission than what I did in the Philippines but I, and others, must have justice.
Respectfully,
Sherry Zimmer