Before I share with you my views about the critical issues that beset the nation, let me briefly clarify the concept of the “separation of Church and State” so that we may have an idea of how we can carry out our prophetic mission, distinctly and separately from what government must do in the performance of its responsibilities, and also identify areas where mutual cooperation can be pursued towards the easing of our difficulties without one hampering, preventing or undermining the efforts of the other.
This time-honored principle of the separation of the Church and State was aimed at protecting the State from undue interference by ecclesiastical authority, and not the other way around, in order to forestall the establishment of a State religion that only served to weaken the free exercise of religious beliefs considered to involve a personal relationship between the individual and God. This led to a wall of separation that prevented the State from favoring any particular religion to the exclusion of others, thereby fostering religious freedom and tolerance for everyone.
But history has also shown the crippling effect on the State’s ability to do what it has guaranteed for all its citizens, regardless of their faith because of unwarranted religious meddling. Indeed, the swift and efficient delivery of indispensable services to the people in recognition of their basic human rights has been impeded because of intrusions by the Church on purely State matters. We saw this during the Spanish conquest of the Philippine Islands where the lines of governmental authority between the Church and State were so beclouded and confused. This led to the complete subjugation and hopelessness of the people and nurtured the roots of inequality, poverty and corruption exposed by Dr. Jose Rizal as the social cancer gnawing upon the lives and aspirations of the Filipino.
However, I believe that for the Church to assert its views on socio-political or other secular issues consistent with its teachings and prophetic ministry or for government officials to express their concerns against practices or obstacles put up by the Church, believed to be beyond the scope of priestly objectives or purpose, are dynamic interactions supportive of a check and balance important to our democratic traditions. Furthermore this keeps the Church alive, vibrant
and relevant and helps the State become effective, efficient and functional to the people. What would be dreadful is for the Church to encourage illegal activity or take and promote coercive action to impose its doctrines and dogmas to everyone regardless of their religious beliefs, or for duly constituted government to restrain and sanction the Church for expressing its views and exercise her rights within the framework of the law. This brings me to my assigned tasked today.
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