Frs Des Hartford and Rufus Halley left Ireland in the 1960s to work in dialogue and conflict resolution between Muslim and Christian communities in the Philippines, a country which was rapidly descending into civil war. For many years the priests lived peacefully as Christians in a Muslim-dominated region on the island of Mindanao, their mission not to convert but rather to serve the local people. But despite their commitment to peace and non-violence, both were targeted by Muslim insurgents. Fr Hartford was kidnapped by the Moro National Liberation Front and used as a bargaining tool in their negotiations with the Philippine government. Fr Halley was murdered by Islamic extremists. Recreated from interviews, diaries, letters and testimony, Murder in the Missions tells their story.
