"THE CHURCH FINDS A NEW VOICE."
EDITORIAL
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
JULY 26, 2020

"Xxx.

In response, MANILA AUXILIARY BISHOP BRODERICK PABILLO dared the Palace official to file charges against Church leaders, asking: “DON'T WE HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK SA MGA KAILANGAN NG PAMAHALAAN? DAHIL BA KAMI AY SIMBAHAN HINDI NA KAMI PUWEDENG MAGSALITA?”

FR. JEROME SECILLANO, CBCP SPOKESPERSON, clarified that “SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE ” IS ACTUALLY DIRECTED AT THE STATE, A PROHIBITION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FAVORING ONE CHURCH OVER OTHERS BY ESTABLISHING A STATE RELIGION OR BY ALLOCATING PUBLIC FUNDS TO FAVOR ONE CHURCH.

CHRISTIAN MONSOD, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, stated that “PRIESTS AND BISHOPS, AS CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY, HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH.” Father Secillano added that the principle “DOESN'T ACTUALLY BAR CHURCH LEADERS FROM EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL OPINIONS.” Besides, he added, “IF THE CHURCH DOES NOT ANYMORE SPEAK ABOUT ALL THESE MATTERS AND THEREFORE ARE WRONGS BEING COMMITTED LEFT AND RIGHT, THEN WE CEASE TO EXIST AS A CHURCH.”

The CBCP STATEMENT, SIGNED BY BISHOP PABLO VIRGILIO DAVID OF KALOOKAN who is ACTING PRESIDENT of the bishops’ conference, observed that “while a semblance of democracy is still in place and our democratic institutions somehow continue to function, WE ARE ALREADY LIKE THE PROVERBIAL FROG SWIMMING IN A POT OF SLOWLY BOILING WATER.”

The seemingly newfound outspoken ways of the Catholic hierarchy have found a SYMPATHETIC EAR AND SUPPORTIVE VOICE FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF OTHER FAITHS GROUPS, and the show of solidarity is striking. “IT IS THE MORAL DUTY AND PROPHETIC TASK OF EVERY CHRISTIAN, ESPECIALLY CHURCH LEADERS, TO ANNOUNCE AND DENOUNCE THE ILLS OF SOCIETY,” said BISHOP REUEL NORMAN O. MARITZA, GENERAL SECRETARY of the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES, which is composed of “MAINLINE ” PROTESTANT CHURCHES in the country.

The fact that at the helm of the two most prominent Catholic institutions are well-known progressive clerics—Bishops Pabillo and David—should explain the GROWING RESOLVE AND FORTHRIGHTNESS IN THE CHURCH’s VOICE. Both have long been denouncing GOVERNMENT REPRESSION, especially the WAR ON DRUGS that has resulted in the killings of thousands of suspects. Malacañang, in complaining about the CBCP’s supposed breach of the Church-State divide, also conveniently forgets that THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAD PUBLICLY DISPARAGED CORE CATHOLIC BELIEFS, INCITED VIOLENCE AGAINST BISHOPS, AND TRAFFICKED IN MALIGN GOSSIP AGAINST CARDINAL LUIS ANTONIO TABLE.

Perhaps it’s just a matter of timing, with PUBLIC ANGER COMING TO A HEAD AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT’s HARSH METHODS AND MISPLACED PRIORITIES in the face of the country’s most serious public HEALTH CRISIS, which has also metamorphosed into the gravest ECONOMIC REVERSAL in decades. In any event, it’s a welcome development that, it is hoped, EMBOLDENS THE FAITHFUL AND ALL CONSCIENTIOUS CITIZENS alike to think, TO REFLECT, and then TO ACT to realize their most fervent dreams for the country."