a COFFEE TABLE

E-book

R.A. 1425:VICTORY OF THE CHURCH OR STATE?

The Coffee Table Book is about R.A. 1425 or commonly known as the Rizal Law. RA No. 1425 prescribes the teaching of the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal for all school, colleges and universities. This book will show the debates and controversies between the Church and the State on who really triumphed on the said bill

The Coffee Table Book aims to provide information about controversies on the passing of the Rizal bill. It shows the important points or events of the two sides whether to pass the bill or not.

GROUP HISTORIANS:Binas, Nigel > Cai, Michael > Chua, James > Chua,

Justine > Datinguinoo, Richman > Gaddi, Francis > Lin, Nicole

INTRODUCTION

An Act to include in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges and universities courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

REPUBLIC ACT 1425

Original Author:Jose P. Laurel The one who Proposed

to the Senate was Claro M. Recto

Jose P. Laurel gave a substitue measure unanimously approved on May 12, 1956.

This was signed into law as Republic Act 1425 by President Ramon Magsaysay on June 12, 1956.

Senator Laurel explains that this will was not to sir up antagonism religious dissension, much less revive conflict of any character particularly in religious field.

Facts of the Bill:

“The objection is based on the fact that the two aforementioned novels are comprehended among the books enumerated as forbidden in Canon 1399 of the Code of Canon Law.”

“Father Jesus Cavenna described Noli Me Tangere as ‘an attack on the clergy’ and alleged that the novel was not really patriotic because out of 333 pages, only 25 contained patriotic passages while 120 contained anti-Catholic statements.”

“In these two novels we find passages against Catholic dogma and morals where repeated attacks are made against the Catholic religion in general, against the possibility of miracles, against the doctrine of Purgatory, against the Sacrament of Baptism, against Confession Communion, Holy Mass, against the doctrine of Indulgences, Church prayers, the Catechism of Christian Doctrine, sermons, sacramentals and book of piety.” – CBCP

CHURCH’S CONTRADICTION

“We also find passages that make light of ecclesiastical discipline especially in what concerns stole fees, alms to the Church, alms in suffrages for the dead, authority of the Pope, excommunication, education in Catholic School, Pontifical privileges, Catholic burial, the organization of nunneries and monasteries,etc.”

“Another speaker, radio commentator Jesus Paredes, said that since some parts of the novels had been declared ‘objectionable matter’ by the hierarchy, Catholics had the right to refuse to read them so as not to “ endanger their salvation.”

“But unfortunately, these novels were written when Dr. Jose Rizal, estranged for a time from our faith and religion, did contradict many of our Christian beliefs.

CHURCH’S CONTRADICTION

“If this bill, they say, passes Congress, and if the present controversy spreads and increases, then when this bill reaches the President for his signature, he will be placed between the two horns of dilemma, where he will suffer politically either way.” – Church Under Attack

“Rosales warned that rather than make students read Rizal’s novels, Catholic schools throughout the country, numbering more than 600 would close.”

The Bill was Retco’s revenge against the Catholic voters who together with Magsaysay were responsible for his poor showing in the 1955 senatorial elections.” – Narcisco Pimental Jr. Radio Commentator

“In Bacolod, Bishop Manuel Yap warned conventioneers that lawmakers who would vote for Noli-fili Bill would be punished in the next election.”

CHURCH RESULTS TO THREATS

Government made the RA 1425 to make use of Rizal’s books, Noli and El Fili for academics with the goal to have nationalism and patriotism.

“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their passages we see ourserlves as in a mirror: our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices.”

“In the Senate debates, Recto lamented the ‘tragic destiny of Rizal’ who fought for religious freedom, to be persecuted anew by religious intolerance.”

“It was written for Filipino people, specifically the Filipino youth, who may have lost their sense of nationalism.”

Making the Filipino realize their flaws will prepare themselves for the sacrifices they have to make to attain freedom. The only objective of the bill is to foster better appreciation of our national hero’s role in fighting for freedom under the colonialism of the Spaniards, not to go against any religion.

The State Answers Back the Church

“It is not for that purpose that is measure is being presented, to stir any antagonism or conflict or dissension between the different religious groups. We need unity of purpose and unity in the execution of those measures which are calculated to enhance and promote the welfare of the people at large regardless of our political creed, of our religious creed and of our political and social beliefs and prejudices.” - The Complete Works of Claro M. Recto

“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote these books. He aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride and patriotism, and if references were made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines in those days and to the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the church, it was because he portrayed faithfully the general situation in the Philippines as it then existed.”

“Either there was really nothing objectionable to the books under Canon Law in the first place and that the Hierarchy’s opposition to the original bill was motivated merely by a desire to prevent the misbehavior of the Ministers of the Church during the Spanish regime from being brought to light again.”

– The Complete Works of Claro M. Recto : A Postcript

The Rizal Law was a result of compromise and was finally implemented.

“A vast majority of our people are at the same time Catholics and Filipino Citizens. As such, they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves. They are harmonious affections like the love of a child for his father and for his mother. This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a conflict between the government and the Church.” – Senator Francisco Rodrigo

the RH BILL

• RH BILL: A refresher•Similarities to the R.A. 1425•Short views from the Church and from the State

RH BILL: A REFRESHER

HOUSE BILL 5043

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

The reproductive health bill is one of the controversial issues in the country nowadays due to its urgent signing of the government which is not supported by the religious sector. Since then, the RH Bill has been a contentious social issue because it opposes two powerful sectors with each other – the Church and the development non-government sector supported by government technocrats.

Objections the ChurchAdvocates contend that the RH bill promotes reproductive health. The RH Bill certainly does not. It does not protect the health of the sacred human life that is being formed or born. The very name “contraceptive” already reveals the anti-life nature of the means that the RH bill promotes. These artificial means are fatal to human life, either preventing it from fruition or actually destroying it. Moreover, scientists have known for a long time that contraceptives may cause cancer. Contraceptives are hazardous to a woman’s health.

Condoms provide a false security that strongly entices individuals towards increased sexual activity, increasing likewise the incidence of HIV/AIDS. “Safe sex” to prevent HIV /AIDS is false propaganda.

Advocates also say that the RH bill is necessary to stop overpopulation and to escape from poverty. Our own government statistical office has concluded that there is no overpopulation in the Philippines but only the over-concentration of population in a number of urban centers.

-CBCP

manage population prevent unwanted pregnancies Prevention of abortion and management

of post-abortion complications  Prevention and management of

reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and STDs

Elimination of violence against women Prevention and treatment of infertility  RH education for the youth.

According to the State

SIMILARITIES OF THE TW

O BILLSThere are striking similarities between

the two bills. First, they have one common enemy which is the Church. Second, the church also issued pastoral letters on the parishes telling about the bill. Third, there is an issue or keep on insisting about the separation between the Church and the State.

ConclusionAlthough, the state triumphed over the Church in R.A. 1425, we can still say that the Church also won because it was a result of a compromise bill and the revisions made are prior to the Church.

Ipinasa kay:Dr. Ronaldo MactalKASPIL1- S14