Abellanosa: Church and state collaboration

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s dislike for religion especially Catholicism is not doing any good to his governance. I would like to make it, once again, clear: “to his governance.” True, many praised him because finally someone brave enough has quarreled with the Catholic Church. On the contrary many opportunities for development have been missed if not disregarded because of his quarrelsome attitude.

I once interviewed the late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. He told me that of all the Philippine presidents he had dialogue with, Fidel Ramos was the most gentlemanly and the most cooperative. The Philippine bishops had a lot of conflicts with the Ramos administration. It was during Ramos’ term that the Philippines participated in the Cairo Conference. The CBCP also fought hard against the proposed charter change under Ramos’ administration. We need not mention that Ramos was a Protestant.

Duterte’s style is different and, sadly, it is damaging to governance. He wants to tell the people that he is in control of things. Like the other presidents he does not want religion especially the Catholic bishops to interfere in governance. Sadly, he sends his message wrongly and rudely. He does not know how to dialogue. In the first place, he is someone who cannot enter into dialogue due to lack of logic and earnestness. None of us can genuinely dialogue with someone who cannot be understood. Dialogue is also impossible with someone who does not want to take things seriously.

This is a serious problem. A political leader may have the strongest dislike for religion. Practically speaking however religion remains to be a social reality even in the most secular of all secularized societies. Religion remains to be part of people’s lives and so it continues to play a formidable role in society. Religion may have its own motives, not necessarily good ones. It is true some religious leaders or bishops are very good in brokering power. However, as in everything in politics, there is a need to negotiate. Political life will never thrive without the ability to sit down in the negotiating table. Duterte should not forget that even dictators or fascists had to spend time discussing human rights with religious leaders.

The current administration could have used some areas of governance as meeting points for collaboration and dialogue. I can think of two. Foremost is on the issue of ENDO. Catholic social teaching has been defending the dignity of labor. It is thus a common ground or concern with the Philippine bishops and Duterte’s leadership. With Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, ecology or environmental protection could be another area of collaboration.

Duterte only sees the Catholic leadership in terms of sexual abuses and financial corruption. I am tempted to think that just as Duterte wants to clean the government from corruption (I hope my presumption is correct) so does he want to do the same with the Church. Unfortunately, religion is not his area or domain. And if he cannot even clean the government there is no way for him to also clean religious institutions. The best that he can do is to collaborate with religious groups in finding more alternative routes to governance. Development after all is not just the duty of the State. It is a lifelong thrust that would only succeed if participated by all sectors of society, religion included.

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