Political Religions? or Religious Politics?

Submitted by rejtatel on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 8:28am

The Separation of Church and State is one of the more well-guarded provisions of the Philippine Constitution, in reaction to the evils experienced during the era of a state-imposed religion. This policy of separation of church and state is reinforced by the fundamental freedom of religion and free exercise thereof, which, again is one of the jewels of the citizens’ bill of rights.

Generally however, Filipinos may have a different way of interpreting the concept of separation of church and state. Because of the excesses committed by the Spanish Friars during the 333 years of Spanish Colonization of the Philippines, the word Church may have been attached to the Roman Catholic Religion. The mere mention of the Church automatically equates to the Roman Church.

While the Philippines is said to be 80% catholic, still amongst these 80% Catholics are critics of the same religion to which they are affiliated with since birth. Whenever the Catholic Church takes side in any political exercise or civic and social issue, the primary argument by critics against the Catholic Church is the separation of church and state, that is, the Catholic Church should not interfere with the affairs of the government, or should not busy itself with issues that are left to politicians to decide, ironically quoting the Bible to ‘give onto caesar what is due onto caesar, and to God what is due onto God’.

The Roman Catholic Church’s position is inevitably being sought by some people in almost every aspect of the Filipino life, politically especially. In response, the Catholic Church creates layman’s groups and associations, and undertakes programs and projects specifically directed, one way or the other, to politics or matters derivative of which.

Some priests and bishops however practically and actively involve themselves on political issues, and even issue guidelines on whom to vote or whom should not be voted upon. When criticized, these clerics retort that they are just giving general guidelines citing their moral responsibility towards their flock. A closer scrutiny of these general guidelines however clearly shows that they are in fact general guidelines directed against or in favor of a specific candidate or politician for that matter.

Lately, a handful of priests, and other religious leaders have thrown their hat in the political arena, joining elections this time as candidates themselves, virtually forgetting the biblical foreboding that one “cannot serve two masters at the same time”.

Some however contented themselves behind the scene, as king makers (or queen makers). And obviously the two religious personalities that dominate this category are the late Jaime Cardinal Sin and late Erano “Erdy” Manalo, the then Head of the cult Iglesia Ni Kristo.

Cardinal Sin as king maker (or queen maker) was vocal and totally public in his pronouncements as to whom he supported. In contrast, Erano Manalo had established a “consultative procedure” down to the grassroot members to choose whom to support during every election from the President to the Barangay Councilor.

Cardinal Sin spoke from his “podium” telling his “flock” what should be done and whom to choose. In contrast, Ka Erdy “consults” his “flock”, and then provides a list of names of candidates to be voted upon from his “central”. Disobeying Cardinal Sin’s guidelines has no repercussions whatsoever. In contrast, anyone who disobeys the “list handed down” from Central is disobeying God Himself, on the premise that God ordained his “flock” to be one and united, even in choosing a candidate.

As result, Cardinal Sin was detested for intefering with the affairs of the state. In contrast, Ka Erdy’s favor was sought. Policians were lining-up for an audience with him. His blessing is “worth dying for”.

Cardinal Sin was credited for two people power revolution. While he obtained prominence by reason thereof, and presumably beloved by the catholic faithful, still, when it came to “politicking” (read: expressing political leanings), he was criticized. The Church, which he led, should not interfere in politics. This is the almost always argument against the late cardinal’s political leanings and opinions. Despite these criticisms however, the late cardinal continued to involve himself in the more mundane world of politics, to his death, true to his words that:“My duty is to put Christ in politics. Politics without Christ is the greatest scourge of the nation.”

Ka Erdy was reputably his father’s son. He headed the INK until his death. A growing religion. A growing empire. The epitome of dynastic succession. A church the only head of which should be a male heir of the Manalo Clan. A church in some aspect. A family-run business empire in effect, modeled in some respect to that ancient church called the Holy See.

Now it's election time once again, and the signs are unmistakable. Politicians are lining up seeking the blessing of every imaginable heads of religions of this country. Breaking breads together, establishing alliances, compromising benefits quid pro quo...short of selling oneself to the devil.

The question now is, what role would religion play in this critical moment of the nation’s history?

With the demise of these two highly visible religious figures in the political sidelines during election times, who among their successors would stand-up and claim the flicker that their names bring out?

Cardinal Rosales from his acts is obviously unwilling to actively interfere. Would Eduardo Manalo (yes, Erano’s Son) continue his Grandfather’s (Felix Manalo) doctrine of ‘political unity’?

The game has just began.

As politicians muster all public support they can get, we will see what the "divine" would play in the most mundane endeavor called politics…

or better yet...

What the mundane world of politics would play in the 'divine' endeavor called "religion"?

POLITICAL RELIGION ,RELIGIOUS POLITICAL

Submitted by BARINAD on Wed, 03/03/2010 - 11:46am.

Here are some inputs regarding the ever existing precence of religion not only in politics but also in governance.

The church not contented with thier persistent influence over the government really pushed the envelop sometime in 2006.Religious group,the church and in this case the CBCP really pushed the envelop by creating the so called "Bishops-Congressmen’s Forum ".The so called initiative was designed to intervene with the current legistlation programs in the lawmaking sector and in this case the Phillipine Congress.The fizzled(Bishop-Congressmen forum) move,was actually designed to enable religious leaders/representave to actually participate in the legislation which includes deliberation prelude to a passage of a bill or law.Of course the majority of the congressmen, smelled something fishy so they blocked the said resolution.It doesnt take one to be a rocket scientist to identify this proposed agreement as an :"in your face" violation of the constitution..The separation of the state and the church.

Kung mahihiling ta sa sato na gobyerno,kadakul na importanteng programas de gobiernos an dae na iimplementar por medyo sa pakikiaram kang mg religious leaders.Amo ini ang pig aapod na religious blackmail.An gobyerno man,como medyo palyado asin kadakol na skeleton in the closet,mina bigay man maski ngani dispalenghado na maray ang pighahagad kang simbahan.

Ini sarong ehemplo na medyo gasgas na..Iyo ang programa kan Dept of health specifically the Artificial Methods of birth control.Su leyes yaon na..Kung sa legalidad na huroron ,labi ka legal..Ang siste pine pressure ang Presedente asin ang mga officiales de gobyernos para i-emplemaentar sana su Natural method sana na eu ang gusto kan simbahan.Lets take Manila as the microcosm of this problem..Then Mayor Lito Atienza, an ally of the church and an advocate of PRO-LIFE..diverted the Funds supposedly to implement Resposinsible Parenthood... only and strictly for the natural method.Ano naging epekto?Hinali su libreng pag pa I.U.D,dae na available su mga condoms,cervical caps etc sa government health clinics/centers. Instead of putting the funds on those other methods,they hired and relied to some so called"trained individuals para mag edukar sana exclusively for Natural methods.Spending government funds to implement methods of high failure rate???Dahil amo su gusto kan simbahan?Haen na su purpose para ma control ang population?At ang pinaka masaklap,tinanggalan nila ng option ang mga tao kung ano ang saindang pilion na methods.Nakakalingaw ining mga ini na ang programa kan Family planning ay para sa gabos asin bako sana sa saklaw kang paniniwala kang simbahan.Narumdoman ko pa kang nag volunteer ako sa sarong ahensya na NGO,funded by the U.N. para mag conduct nin libreng edukasyon manungod sa Population control.Sa sarong lugar,we were literally whisked away dahil"pig lalason daa nyamo ang espiritual na buhay kang m Komunidad.And to make matters worse,su ibang government health workers,they were threatened na mawawaran nin trabaho pag inimplement ninda ang Artifial methods.The exact term na nadangog ko hali sa sarong midwife "Sir,dae tabe ako maka tabang saindo ta i-ex communicate daa ako pag naaraman na naga suporta sa programang ini.WTF?Kung iisipon,trabaho ngani ninda ang mag pasiwalat kang programas de gobyerno regarless kung ini saliwat sa saindang relihyon..

The list goes on pero halaba na nin marhay..No wonder why the revised House Bill on responsible parenthood had been gathering dust for the past so many years and it hasn’t moved precisely because the Catholic Church had been actively campaigning against it.

Religion is omnipresent in Philippine politics.But seldom we see true spirituality based on compassion,logic and respect to humanity in it.

I think religious leaders

Submitted by kurukay on Sat, 02/27/2010 - 3:18am.

I think religious leaders should absolutely keep away from politics.

If Jesus is still walking on the face of this earth, seeing the alleged graft and corruption, immorality, illegality and the whole nine yards in the government:
1.) Do you think JESUS will run for public office to address these issues?
2.) Do you think JESUS will rebuke these corrupt government officials, and gather all His followers and have a rally to protest these maladies at EDSA or Mendiola or Luneta or Liwasang Bonifacio?
3.) Do you think JESUS will order His followers to be united and VOTE FOR or NOT VOTE for a particular candidate?
4.) Do you think JESUS will organize a rally to protest charter change, or the reproductive health bill?
5.) Do you think JESUS will join a rally and demand that GLORIA ARROYO should resign because of Hello Garci, Jun Lozada Expose, and all the controversies under the GMA administration?

I think not.

He commanded us to give to "Caesar's what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God".

He also said that His "kingdom is not of this Earth".

In His entire life as written in the Bible, he did not speak against the political structure or the civil governance.

BUT He was passionate about matters of faith, and the Church and the matters of God.

For the believers, he commanded them to subject themselves to civil authorities.

Clearly, Jesus did not and will not concern himself with the affairs or governance and politics. He is particularly concerned with our soul, our salvation, the paradise that he prepared for us. He is just not too keen in participating in petty politics.

political religion

tisay na agta's picture
Submitted by tisay na agta on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 8:49pm.

Hinde dapat maka-afect ang RELIGION sa outcome ng elections.... kaso yun ang nangyayari.. napakalaki din ng influence ng religion.. kahelera na nya mga big time corporation pgdating sa impluwensya sa govt.

kasi alam na man natin na most religions are based on faith.. opinion opinion... kaya nga may state para ang pagbasehan ay logic at reasoning..may procedures at pgaaral ng mga epektibong patakaran.. hindi ung porkit ganito ang sinabi ng mga ninunong pinuno ng relihiyon...

no offense,pero kaya hindi naunlad ang bansa eh..dahil takot sa simbahan or baka makatapak ng anung man relihiyon kahit hindi na iniisip kung tama po ba.. one of d reasons atleast

diba ganyan din naman nung panahon ng mga kastila? mga prayle yung nasusunod at hindi yung Gobyerno.

Ang masakit na katotohanan eh , ang simbahan katoliko at yung ibang religion eh nagpapagamit sa mga pulitiko. or vice versa.

kunwari ay ipagdadasal pa or ibebless yung pulitiko. tapos sasabihin nung lider na si ganito yung iboto niyo dahil siya ay ganito, blah blah blah blah kaya ating ipagdasal na sana ay siya yung manalo. tapos pag nanalo naman, mag p-prayer prayer rally para patalsikin yung dati nilang inendorso pag di nila nagustuhan.
parang gaguhan diba?

Ang pag boto ay karapatan, hindi ito obligasyon sa ating relihiyon.

Let Faith, Not religion influence us on the elections.

Social and Moral

ilaya's picture
Submitted by ilaya on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 6:07am.

The Church have the social and moral responsibility to her flocks. Religion and politics can't be separated...and people who are top in the hierarchy is the one that makes it's action moral or social. Good and evil comes into play. Money and power is a bad creation of religion in politics. Endorsement, block voting equals money and power...many brothers were made rich and powerful...Religion corrupts.......Bro. Verde ...Bro. WilWin...Bro. Sin? what can you say? Who are you endorsing? Who is your candidate? Is he Mr. Money Mr. Evil? Mr. Liar? Mr. Corrupt? The flock say amen...They should go to hell...

Politics religion

Submitted by berto on Thu, 02/25/2010 - 10:12pm.

There is politics in religion, but seldom there is religion in politics.

In broader perspective, politics and religion are mostly the root cause of today's global conflict. Deficilon ang topic na ini pag-hururunan ta lalong mas maribok ang "end-result" dahil, kadaklan, dai man sana magkakasundo ang mga mag-de-debate sa topic na ini.

Others treat religion and politics as life. Others treat politics and religion way of life. Others really do not care.

These topics are so sensitive and as in any other discussions, suppose to be controlled by the most sensitive part of the human body, the brain. Despite the brain being the source of intelligence, "logical intelligence" is defied by most people when it comes to politics and religion. In simple terms, the attitude that is applied by most is "Kung namundag kang Kristiyano, magadan kang Kristiyano" or " Kung nabuhay kang Lakas, ilubong kang Kampi".

Politics in religion is widespread. This can be exemplified in Northern Ireland. Ang iriwal sa Northern Ireland baco man sa religion kundi sa politica. Su mga lideres kan magkasalungat na grupo ginamit lang su "religious differences" kan mg tawo para magka-igwa sindang makusog na pwersa.

Sa Pilipinas, mas mina-apply ang politics in religion sa Simbahan Katoliko dahil sinda ang dominant religion. Dahil dominant, sinda man pirme ang pig-tutuligsa at saka warang pagka-burunyog ang RC leadership kan Pilipinas. Ang bawat cardinal, obispo o padi, may kanya-kanyang programa political. Bakong arog sa ibang religion, ang iba, one-man rule. Siring man, ang mga politico mina pa-endorso sa mga one-man rule na sekta para magka gulping boto.

Religion in politics can be attributed to the political will of a person or a politician in particular. Religion in politics can be expressed in a politician's devotions, convictions and principles. Ma re-realize ini sa mga progressive countries lalo na ang may two-party system na gobyerno. Sa Pilipinas, gare bihira ang politicong arog kaini.

Therefore, if a politician is not a fleeting political butterfly, with a conviction to serve the people, devoted to his beliefs and principles and sees a broader perspective in life, then he is applying religion in politics.

if a politician...

Submitted by kurukay on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 7:15am.

"...if a politician is not a fleeting political butterfly, with a conviction to serve the people, devoted to his beliefs and principles and sees a broader perspective in life, then..." he ceases to be a politician. He becomes a statesman.

if a politician

Submitted by Sweet Bikolana on Fri, 02/26/2010 - 2:16pm.

Politics should not be a career.

And careers should never be

Submitted by rejtatel on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 5:53am.

And careers should never be politicized...