Proposed freedom of Religion in Governtment Offices Act in the Philippines

Lamark · #1 Jun 20, '12, 5:48 pm

Hi to all, I hope i can get an answer for this, there will be an issue in the philippines about the installation of Catholic images and icons in Gov't offices this coming months. As a Background, The philippines is predominantly Catholic. And in being so it has been an 'OK' for many to see images, icons, crucifixes installed along corridors and offices in the Gov't. people belived they helped arouse fear of God among the corrupt and the thieves. Also, before state sessions it has been a practice to make an ecumenical prayer and most of the times a catholic mass at local government levels. Now there is this Rep. Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan Partylist (Youth partylist) who is proposing the removal of any religious symbols inside gov't perimeter and the banning of making religiuos prayers before state sessions. The catholic youth groups condemn such bill and argues that election time is near and so this 'should be representative of the youth' is creating some buzz for popularity among the secularists. My question is, what should be the proper reaction of a Catholic, specifically a Catholic youth, for this bill, should they let it pass or should they defend this practice?

Crescentinus · #2 Jun 20, '12, 8:41 pm

It's dirty politics at the heart of it, kinda like when President Aquino asked that the Catholic Church excommunicate him in a speech in the University of the Philippines. It's pathetic really. It only proves that Rep. Palatino had done close to nothing in politics.
Personally, I am disgusted at his proposal since it says more about his performance.

Also, it would be best to defend the practice than outlaw it.

patrick457 · #3 Jun 22, '12, 4:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamark

Hi to all, I hope i can get an answer for this, there will be an issue in the philippines about the installation of Catholic images and icons in Gov't offices this coming months. As a Background, The philippines is predominantly Catholic. And in being so it has been an 'OK' for many to see images, icons, crucifixes installed along corridors and offices in the Gov't. people belived they helped arouse fear of God among the corrupt and the thieves. Also, before state sessions it has been a practice to make an ecumenical prayer and most of the times a catholic mass at local government levels. Now there is this Rep. Raymond Palatino of the Kabataan Partylist (Youth partylist) who is proposing the removal of any religious symbols inside gov't perimeter and the banning of making religiuos prayers before state sessions. The catholic youth groups condemn such bill and argues that election time is near and so this 'should be representative of the youth' is creating some buzz for popularity among the secularists. My question is, what should be the proper reaction of a Catholic, specifically a Catholic youth, for this bill, should they let it pass or should they defend this practice?

As a half-Filipino myself, I'm not too happy about this. Attempting to remove any outward practice of religion is something that does not sit well with me. To be honest I'm not too bothered with not practicing prayers before state sessions, but 'banning' it?

Lamark · #4 Jun 22, '12, 6:59 pm

Thank you all for those encouraging comments, i've been bothered with this because as a member of an active catholic renewal youth group in the University of the Philippines, I feel restrained from expressing religious impulses in this issue on campus level due to the fact that the political entitites in the university have always been staunch secularists and activists against all institutions that they deem contradict their 'communist' (i can't find any preferable word) ideologies.

Thank you all, and God bless.

"Maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan at maka-bansa"
(For God, people, nature and country)
---Philippine National Motto

Lamark · #5 Jun 22, '12, 8:34 pm

Just came in...together with my catholic youth group, we are happy to tell you that the congressman has withdrawn his "Anti-God" bill. God is good.

"MANILA, Philippines—After drawing strong condemnation from Catholic bishops and other lay leaders, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino apologized and meekly withdrew his bill seeking to prohibit religious rites and images in government buildings and offices in line with the Constitution’s separation of Church and State.
Palatino said he was withdrawing House Bill No. 6330, or An Act Empowering Heads of Offices and Departments to Strictly Implement the Constitutional Provisions on Religious Freedom in Government Offices, “in response to the appeal and clamor of some of our members, constituents and supporters, various groups, institutions and the general public.”

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/217369/...-anti-god-bill

"We know who's afraid of the cross--the devil"
----Anonymous

Crescentinus · #6 Jun 22, '12, 8:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamark

Thank you all for those encouraging comments, i've been bothered with this because as a member of an active catholic renewal youth group in the University of the Philippines, I feel restrained from expressing religious impulses in this issue on campus level due to the fact that the political entitites in the university have always been staunch secularists and activists against all institutions that they deem contradict their 'communist' (i can't find any preferable word) ideologies.

Thank you all, and God bless.

"Maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan at maka-bansa"
(For God, people, nature and country)
---Philippine National Motto

U.P. Manila is worse for the same reasons as U.P. Diliman. I'm studying there, and it is extremely problematic if I express my views there.

Crescentinus · #7 Jun 22, '12, 8:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamark

Just came in...together with my catholic youth group, we are happy to tell you that the congressman has withdrawn his "Anti-God" bill. God is good.

"MANILA, Philippines—After drawing strong condemnation from Catholic bishops and other lay leaders, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino apologized and meekly withdrew his bill seeking to prohibit religious rites and images in government buildings and offices in line with the Constitution’s separation of Church and State.
Palatino said he was withdrawing House Bill No. 6330, or An Act Empowering Heads of Offices and Departments to Strictly Implement the Constitutional Provisions on Religious Freedom in Government Offices, “in response to the appeal and clamor of some of our members, constituents and supporters, various groups, institutions and the general public.”

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/217369/...-anti-god-bill

"We know who's afraid of the cross--the devil"
----Anonymous

Praise the Lord!