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THERE is supposed to be a separation of Church and State as ordained
by our Constitution. Yet, religious matters often intrude into
political affairs. In fact, even the Holy Mass and the pulpit are
being used to mouth the “flavor-of-the-month” political slogans.
Worse, even more rumors and unverified charges are gaining currency
from some Church leaders. An established maxim in morals says that
he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or
false, is guilty of falsehood. Yet such purveyors of rumors and
unverified charges claim to be in search for the truth!
Maybe, the intermingling of Church and State
interests is taking place because Christianity has been with us for
487 years and its teachings and practices have become rooted in
Philippine society. Still, I find it repugnant that so-called
prayer-rallies are being used to push a political agenda. Holy Mass,
a sacred rite, is now being misused as a political tool. Even
exorcism is becoming less than sacred with theatrics and politics
marring the rites.
I find it funny that some religious leaders are
openly engaged in politics, they were against the candidacy of Fr.
Ed Panlilio who ran for and won as Pampanga governor. At least,
Governor Panlilio was more open and followed up his convictions with
action. He is unlike others who participate in politics on the sly.
I’d prefer it if those Church leaders join Governor Panlilio and
run for public office, too. Throw away the masquerade. But if sanity
should return to our political system, then keep religion out of
State affairs.
Religious firefrands
A religious firebrand campaigning for public
office is certain to invoke the name of God and lean on his sense of
righteousness. There was the American leader, I’ve forgotten his
name, who once said of his preacher opponent: “I don’t mind his
having ace on his sleeves but I do mind when he says that God put it
there.”
We have many clergymen who invoke the name of
God in un-Christian activities. I have also noted the lack of
Christian spirit in several priests who ridicule others who do not
agree with them. Some go to the extreme of joining hands with the
rebels. As the political saying goes: “The enemy of my enemy is my
friend. The friend of my enemy is my enemy.”
If a clergyman abets rebellion, should he be
freed from any liability on account of his being a priest? I just
read a related story involving President Abraham Lincoln after the
American Civil War. A clergyman in St. Louis was expelled from the
pastorate because of his suspected support for the rebellion. The
clergyman’s supporters asked Lincoln to intervene so that the
clergyman could return to the pastorate. Lincoln refused, saying he
could not give to a clergyman a privilege he could not give to
others. He said that he had directed the army to arrest the
clergyman, just like the others who had supported the rebellion.
“When an individual, in the church or out of
it, becomes dangerous to the public interest, he must be checked;
but the churches, as such, must take care of themselves,” he
stressed.
Lincoln, probably the greatest American
president, said it all – no special privileges from the State to
any denomination, no State interference in ecclesiastical decisions.
Can we expect the Philippine clergy not to interfere in State
affairs?
In this Holy Week, Lord I pray, may You save us
from self-righteous politicians and other leaders who consider only
themselves and those that they know and believe in as the good, the
true and the beautiful. May You grant wisdom and probity to those
who participate in legislative inquiries so we could be spared the
grandstanding and reckless accusations.
Pinoys on Pacquiao fight
Pinoys in Las Vegas used Pacquiao’s fight as
occasion for a party. My wife Lynn, our children Irene and Ryan,
their mates Gerry and Shayne, my sister Nelly and her hubby Rody,
plus some other relatives hied to a friend’s house near Flamingo
to see the Pacquiao fight on pay-per-view. My wife said that the
shouts of the more than 30 Pinoys in the house could have raised the
roof! But the wonder of it all, according to Lynn, was that our
month-old grandson Joshua slept through the whole racket.
Ooops!
Reader Frank Tucker virtually said nothing in
his email about the Chinese proverb I quoted in my previous column
but his “Hmm” spoke volumes. The correct quotation is: “He who
knows not and knows he knows not is simple, teach him. He who knows
and knows not he knows is asleep, wake him. He who knows not and
knows not he knows not is a fool, shun him.”
efrendanao2003@yahoo.com
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