Blog EntryIt’s the “moral” thing to do?Feb 20, '08 10:04 PM
for everyone

It’s all in the news...papers, T.V and radio. The Philippines is again plague by controversies. Administration vs. the Opposition, the ZTE Scam issue and today this Lozada guy is the hero. Frankly, I’m getting sick and tired of it.

It’s a big moro-moro and the local media is just trying to kindle the fire to create more news. Wow! We’re getting too paranoid! And now those who are opposing PGMA are talking about what Romulo Neri said about Gloria. Strange that all the so-called people who heard this are those who are against Gloria (?) OK let say that Romulo Neri did utter that Gloria Arroyo is evil, then what? Will that make things cheaper? Will that make more jobs? I think some of our "respected" senators are just using this to make a grand standing, a political spring board, an advertisement for the next Presidential election in 2010.

Senatorial hearings are for legislative purpose. I nearly drop on my chair when I saw this young, novice senator wasting his time in Ninoy Aquino International Airport looking at that arrival list and trying to figure out if Lozada was kidnapped. He’s a senator, not a Private Eye, geewizz! We’re paying his salary to create laws, not to do what the NBI and the PNP are suppose to be doing!

According to ART. VI Sec. 21 of the Philippine Constitution: The Senate and the House of Representatives or any of its respective committees may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation in accordance with its duly published rules of procedure. The right of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected. That’s it. The ZTE deal was already off. The contract with ZTE is now null and void. So the inquest is for what? It’s OK that someone blew the whistle...that’s it. It’s time for the Senate to create a law regarding this matter. That’s their job and that’s why we elected them and why we’re paying taxes for their salaries. We have more problems other than the ZTE deal. Maybe it’s time they should look at the cheaper medicine bill.

It’s not really an atheistic issue, yet something caught my fancy. The Roman Catholic Church is in again. It’s not enough that the so-called De La Salle brothers help Lozada on his so-called "abduction" and his press conference, now the Roman Catholic Church is justifying church and state issue by using the so-called moral argument. According to them, the reason why the Roman Catholic Church is getting into state affairs is because of moral issue. (By the way, Bro. Villanueva’s Jesus is Lord Church is also joining the circus...Hmmmm is this really for the good of the nation @ Bro. Villanueva or you’re just a sour loser?)

It is said that the Roman Catholic Church here in the Philippines has been responsible for both "People Power" revolts that toppled 2 presidents (Marcos and Estrada). But what does this so-called "power of the people" that the Roman Catholic Church is so proud off really accomplished so far? We are now living in a place riddled with corruption and the worst crab mentality! My gulay!

I think the new generation is getting sick and tired of this People Power thing. Just think...when the Catholic Church used people power to topple Marcos, it brought Cory Aquino to power. So? What did she accomplish? "My husband Ninoy". A Filipina in the front cover of Time magazine, cheaper galunggong, Agrarian Reforms in Hacienda Luisita, 12-hour brown outs?

On October 11, 2000, then Archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin issued a pastoral statement in behalf of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Manila, asking then president Erap to step down from the presidency as he had lost the moral authority to govern. People Power 2 overthrows Erap Estrada because the Roman Catholic Church says he’s corrupt and placed Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new President of the Philippine Republic. Now, the CBCP is trying to create another "People Power" to purge her out of Malacañang...Oh come on!

Moral authority is the excuse. Moral of what? Is the church really the voice of the people or does it cry its own voice? When they tried cleaning Malacañang from Erap Estrada in the same issue of moral authority with faith and prayers to God, what happened? Why are they now crying for another so-called moral authority issue with PGMA? Hey! They’re the one who placed her in the Palace in the first place...with the same "People Power" and moral recovery claim.

Suppose let’s allow their so-called People Power 3...and call for the resignation of PGMA. So may I asked - who will you put as a replacement? Noli de Castro, Ping Lacson, a disgruntled pastor, the village fool, my dog?

Some churches claim that since the church is a part of the state, it has the rights to criticize the current government. Is that so? You want to join state affairs - then pay your taxes.

The people of the Philippines are the one who elect their President, and the Constitution of the Philippines was created to solve problems.

ART. XI. Sec. 2

The President, the Vice President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.

That doesn’t say that the bishops should rally people to the streets, call for the resignation of the President without the benefit of hearing his/her side in a proper court of law and place a new rotten egg in Malacañang. If we can’t trust our own Constitution, what can we trust?

The late F. Sionil Jose once said in a conference held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1997, "Eventually, too, I hope that our churches will be empty, as they are in Europe, not because we have become atheistic but because we have realized that our progress depends on our own efforts and not on divine will."

Pinoy Atheist


theophilusbong wrote on Feb 22
I must agree with some of your point, especially how the Senate gravely misuse our taxes just to make an illusion that they are doing their job, where in fact they are using their position to have a premature campaign for 2010. How they appeal to emotions and make the public confused and then triumphantly say that they prove without any shred of doubt that Gloria is guilty and she should go. I also agree with you that Gloria is just a manifestation of a dysfunctional system and a corrupt culture, that removing her and replacing her with a De Castro or a De Venecia is solving nothing. Yes it is very sad as it is very pathetic.


It is said that the Roman Catholic Church here in the Philippines has been responsible for both "People Power" revolts that toppled 2 presidents (Marcos and Estrada). But what does this so-called "power of the people" that the Roman Catholic Church is so proud off really accomplished so far? We are now living in a place riddled with corruption and the worst crab mentality! My gulay!

I must disagree with you on your stance on the Philippine Roman Catholic Church. I think you had used a straw man argument and a Post Hoc, which is unfair and illogical. You see the RCC only served as a rallying point on the first EDSA, but to replace Cory is what the people demanded when the regime of Marcos was fully thrown out of the country and the constitution is dysfunctional at that time. In the second EDSA the RCC only functioned also as a rallying point but to replace Gloria is just what the constitution demanded, not really what the Church nor the people planned, but what the hell that is what the Constitution prescribed.

Yes I agree that our current time line is caused by EDSA but the problems is not from the revolutions per se but from the people who hold office per accidens to that revolution. Connecting RCC with our problems is a gross jump in logic. Sir, your accusation is unfair as it is unsound.

Some churches claim that since the church is a part of the state, it has the rights to criticize the current government. Is that so? You want to join state affairs - then pay your taxes.

The separation of church and state only limits the State to the extent it cannot patronize any single religion and limits the Church to the extent that it cannot take part in executive, legislative and judiciary procedures.

I do think churches work within the bounds of their freedom of expression and religion. Unless you see these things unnecessary in a democracy then by all means they cannot criticize. They also pay their taxes by the mere fact they buy products in the Philippines. By the way the citizenry is not defined on how much taxes you pay.

That doesn’t say that the bishops should rally people to the streets, call for the resignation of the President without the benefit of hearing his/her side in a proper court of law and place a new rotten egg in Malacañang. If we can’t trust our own Constitution, what can we trust?

It is a government by the people and it is a right of the people to rebel under a government they lost confident with. The bishops are also Filipino citizens, do you believe that they should be deprived of their rights? Constitution is man-made, a social contract if you will, if you feel this contract is not honored will you still trust it or will you seek to fix it and make it more just that before?
ravagethoughts wrote on Feb 24
People Power is really an illegal move, and my point is, this so-called "people power" that the RCC is always trying to use, doesn't really solve the Philippine problem. Also, there are "Christian Churches" out there that used the so-called "moral authority" to criticize the state, all I'm saying is if they want to join the circus, let them pay their taxes.

Thanks for the comment.
John the Atheist
theophilusbong wrote on Feb 24, edited on Feb 24
People Power is really an illegal move, and my point is, this so-called "people power" that the RCC is always trying to use, doesn't really solve the Philippine problem. Also, there are "Christian Churches" out there that used the so-called "moral authority" to criticize the state, all I'm saying is if they want to join the circus, let them pay their taxes.

Thanks for the comment.
John the Atheist
Hmmm... I have to disagree with you on People Power being illegal, the constitution did imply that the power and authority of a state emanate from the people. Now if the authority of the state is from the people, then will you agree with me that the people can and it is the people's right to withdraw its support from any state.

With this formula we can prevent any police state from appearing ino ur system. I do understand your fear of the tyranny of the majority, but in a democracy the tyranny of the majority is always there, that's why we have elections, and if the people really govern the state then the officials will really work for the benefits of their employer : the people. Now that's problematic in our case and in our history.

Yes, in the first people power I must say it is a valid step and it reflects the people's grievances against Marcos.

The second is also valid.

And a third I must say is quite stupid.

I will assume that we have the same sentiments regarding a third people power. But going back to the point, a people power is only legitimate given that the constitutional system had been dysfunctional and made a mockery to. That's what happened on the first two but I must say the third does not fit it. So I agree with you on the third and I must contest the first wo because the first two is not a sham to the system but a defense of it.

Regarding the RCC, I must say you are using a straw man argument. If we will review the CBCP's official statement they do call for a people power BUT not a people power manifesting in the streets but a people power starting from one's life. It's a problem of semantics you see, but the bishops don't find it valid to take it into the streets. If there are priests or bishops taking it to the streets, they do it for personal convictions and as citizens of the Republic.

Regarding the morality-pay-your-taxes-thesis. If you see a woman beaten to death by his boyfriend would you stop it there and then or marry the woman first then stop the beating?
ravagethoughts wrote on Feb 24
Sorry for using the word "illegal", the best term may be unconstitutional. It may reflect a very unstable government. The truth is I also share the doubt in the present government @ theophilusbong yet the difference is I still think that calling people to walk in the street may not be the last option.

In the issue regarding the RCC, if you say that the RCC is trying to create a different "People Power" then so be it.

Now let's go to the so-called "stupid". Again, let see...I think you made a wrong illustration regarding your point here. The issue between a woman being beaten to death is different compare to state affairs. There's nothing wrong when someone critized the state in a so-called moral issues, provided that they don't used the pulpit.

Thanks again for writing.
John
theophilusbong wrote on Feb 25
Yeah the pulpit can be abused, agreed. So is the media. All I'm trying to point out is I want you to reconsider that religion doesn't necessarily mean stupid attacks or appeal to popularity or authority. But religion can and is a genuine reflection of its members. As far as I can observe the Church does not really change the politicians, military do.

Anyways, this has been a long argument haha, so let's agree that people power in this political landscape won't simply do it (for the simple reason the constitution is still alive and kicking, though dysfunctional, alive and kicking all the same) and let's agree to disagree on the ethical commitments and responsibilities of people on actual evil being committed in front of them. Sorry, you see, I can't simply accept the mind-your-own-business mindset.

Nice post though, though heavily biased for an anti-religion school of thought, but nicely done and the satire is quite amusing. Keep it up!
ravagethoughts wrote on Feb 25
I would also like to thank you Mr. Guillermo on your comment, we may disagree on somethings, yet your comments is highly appriciated (believe it or not). Such comment may infact help me to learn more things in both sides. Believe me, in the issue that rock Phillippine politics today, we are both seeking for the truth.

John Paraiso
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