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Tuesday, July 18, 2006
San Pedro: Separation of church and state is inviolable
By Art R. San Pedro
Synthesis
THE filing of an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yniguez as expected stirred a hornet's nest. It polarized not only the political and social institutions of our fragmented nation but the very church Bishop Yniguez himself represents.
This controversy had brought to centerstage the controversial issue of the separation of church and state. Must the church interfere in state affairs and conversely, can the government interfere in church affairs?
In all honesty, I believe the rule is consistent in Church-State Relationship. It is "to each its own". The government is the parens patriae of the people, meaning the protector of their welfare, especially lives, liberty and property. The church is the guardian of the morals of the people. Their functions are distinct and separate and it would be fatal to intersperse them.
Bishop Yniguez, while a Filipino citizen, cannot completely detach himself from his robe as a clergy who represents the church. As such, his conduct must be apolitical and beyond reproach. In filing the impeachment complaint against the President, it would be inappropriate for him to claim he did so as Mr. Yniguez, the truth being he continually wears the robe and wields the authority of a bishop. I cannot agree to the proposition he is Bishop and Mr. Yniguez rolled into one. He must make up his mind. Politics and morals are two distinct disciplines espoused by two different institutions.
Bishop Yniguez claims the doctrine of the separation of church and state does not operate or exist where the issue of morality is involved. Wrong! The doctrine does not admit of distinction. Bishop Yniguez must not distinguish because the rule on inviolability is consistent and undisturbed. In fact, I think it would be a dangerous precedent to disturb the doctrine for self-serving and partisan considerations. Wittingly or unwittingly, Bishop Yniguez has farmed the flames of political dissension and has given aid and comfort to the political opposition and destabilizes by his imprudent act. Honestly, I believe Bishop Yniguez showed a misplaced act of patriotism.
It would be to the best interest of our nation and people if partisan politics is left to politicians. Bishop Yniguez cannot be a disgruntled politician hiding under the robe of a bishop. As revolutionaries would say, "Beware of wolves hiding in sheep skin." Do not change the role of the pulpit as the bastion of morality and spirituality.
I was born a Catholic and remain to be so until today. As a Catholic, I know that the church is traditionally conservative. Any deviation from its conservative nature creates dissension within the institution. No wonder the act of Bishop Yniguez got a stunning rebuke from no less than the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). As a Catholic, I am very comfortable in the thought that the church where I belong is not falling into radicalism and fundamentalism. I think that even the State of the Vatican is not about to disturb and deviate from the 2000-year-old doctrine of separation of church and state.
It pains me as it pains millions of peace-loving Filipinos that the impeachment complaint was filed with the House of Representatives at a time when the President of our nation was paying a state visit at the Vatican. This is outright treachery meant to shame and humiliate the President. Of all people who are eligible to file the complaint, why Bishop Yniguez? If this is not an act of partisanship, I do not know what it is. But what I am sure of is that the impeachment complaint is without moral, religious or spiritual flavor but political ramifications and undertones.
I take my hat off and salute the CBCP for upholding the inviolability of the separation of church and state. The CBCP acted correctly. Its message is for Bishop Yniguez and members of the clergy not to tread on forbidden ground. Leave politics to politicians. The church has its own share of problems. It needs institutional reforms. It would be better for the clergy to focus on church reforms and remain the vaunted guardian of the morals of their flock.
Whatever the pitfalls of the Arroyo administration, I honestly believe that it remains supported by the people. The Arroyo administration is legitimate. Those who doubted the legitimacy of the administration have been sufficiently accorded their day in court, but they have failed to prove and substantiate their charges.
Bishop Yniguez cannot do for the opposition what they have miserably failed to do.
(July 18, 2006 issue)
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