1/17/2015

Church, state and Francis - Manila Standard Today

LATESTNEWS

Francis:Savethepoor(http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/17/francissavethepoor/)

HOME(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/)

RSSFEED(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/RSSFEEDS/)

ABOUT(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/ABOUTMANILASTANDARDTODAYONLINE/)

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/)

SUBSCRIBE(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/SUBSCRIBE/)

CONTACT(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CONTACTINFO/)

ADVERTISE (HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/ADVERTISE/)

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php?banner=100)
SATURDAY,JANUARY17,2015

Advertisement

HOME
NEWS
OPINION
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/) (HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/) (HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/OPI

Home(http://manilastandardtoday.com/) Opinion(http://manilastandardtoday.com/category/opinion/)
Columns(http://manilastandardtoday.com/category/opinion/columns/)
PensesbyFr.RanhilioAquino(http://manilastandardtoday.com/category/opinion/columns/pensees
byfrranhilioaquino/)
Church,stateandFrancis

Church, state and Francis

ByFr.RanhilioAquino|Jan.16,2015at12:01am

Tweet(http://twitter.com/share)
HadweadoptedAmericanconstitutionallawdoctrineonChurchStaterelations,many
thingsaboutPopeFrancisvisittothePhilippinesandthegovernmentsinvolvementin
accordinghimwelcomewouldbelegallyamiss.Fortunately,wearewiser,inthatwe
courageouslycraftedanindigenousconstrualofthestatepolicythatordainsthatthe
separationofbothbeinviolate!ItisjurisprudenceasuniqueasourConstitutionthat,in
manyplaces,readslikeatextbookinmoraltheology.Andwearenotnecessarilyworse
offbecauseofthat!

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.c
banner=96)
NEWS UPDATE
SUBSCRIBE
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/RSSFEEDS/)

Francis: Save the poor

9hoursago

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/17/francissave-the-poor/)
PNoy slams priest-critics in front of his visitor
9hoursago

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/17/pnoyslams-priest-critics-in-front-of-his-visitor/)
Pontiff meets Yolanda victims today
9hoursago

Allstopsarepulled.Forthepastdays,beforethePopesarrival,PSGhasbeengoingthroughthe
procedureofsecuringthepersonofthePope,supervisedbynolessthanMalacanansrepresentativesand
evenbyPresidentAquinonoless!TroopsmorenumerousthanthecontingentwesenttoIraqhavebeen
detailedinManilatoprotectPopeFrancisandtosecurethesafetyofthemillionswho,itisanticipated,will
liketocatchatleastaglimpseofonethemostbelovedfiguresintheworldtoday.AndweFilipinostendto
bedisorderlywhenweareexcited!QuirinoGrandstandhasbeenrefurbishedandgovernmenthas
reportedlyspentahandsomesumjustputtingupthebarricadesthat,wehope,willsomehowkeepthe
exuberanceofthecrowdswithinreasonablebounds.

SeparationofChurchandStatethen,asaconstitutionalprescription,hasmanymeaningsandevenif,in
Philippinejurisprudence,wehavefallenbackonfamiliarjuridicallabelssuchasbenevolentneutrality,we
haveconstruedthepreceptofseparationinawayuniquelyours(inmanyways),thanksinlargemeasureto
cerebraljuristswhohavegracedtheSupremeCourt,thelikesofChiefJusticeReynatoPunoinEstradav.
Escritor.Thatisasitshouldbe.Aconstitutionthatgrantstaxexemptiontochurches,thatallowsreligious
(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php
societiestooperateschools,thatprovidesforthepossibilityofreligiousinstructioninpublicschools,that
banner=59)
echoesteachingliketheprimacyoftheauthorityofparentsinregardtochildrenseducationandthe
beginningofhumanlifefromconceptionsofundamentaltomoraltheologycannotengenderthatkindof
SEARCH OPINION
jurisprudencethatoutlawsprayerinpublicceremoniesandreligioussymbolsinpublicspaces,and
proscribestheexcessiveentanglementoftheStateinaffairsofreligion!
BYKEYWORD:

Onewillalwayshearofcourseperpetualmalcontentswhoneverseemtobeabletomoveonfromthe
abusesofsomeoftheSpanishfriars,convenientlyforgettingofcoursethatthedefenseofnativesagainst
theabuseofSpanishoverlords,theauthorshipofthefirstlexiconsandgrammarsofourlanguages,and
genuineobraspiasindifficulttimes,weowetothemuchmalignedfrailes.
AndPopeFrancisshowsusjusthowmeaningfullyandpromisinglytheheadofaninstitutionalfaithcanbe
thechampionofthevaluesthatseparationofChurchandStateissupposedtosafeguardandtojuridify.
Separationisnotanendinitself,butiscalledforbyasocietythathasbecomepluralistic,withcitizens

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/16/church-state-and-francis/

e.g. Pork barrel fund scam

SEARCH

BYDATE:

mm/dd/yyyy

SEARCH

1/4

1/17/2015

Church, state and Francis - Manila Standard Today

maintainingbeliefsnotalwayscompatiblewitheachother.Hisgesturesofopennessandinclusiveness,his
insistentdemandthatwebecharitableandcompassionate,andhiswillingnesstothrowopennotonlythe
windowsbutalsothedoorsoftheChurch,andprobablyevenknockdownsomeofitswallsallthese
makeclearthefallacyofequatingzealforlibertywithantipathytowardsreligion!

rannie_aquino@sanbeda.edu.ph
rannie_aquino@csu.edu.ph
rannie_aquino@yahoo.com
Tweet(http://twitter.com/share)

ScienceDiscoversGod?
DoNewScientificDiscoveriesPointtoaCreatorof
theUniverse?

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php
banner=75)
WANT UPDATES?
Bethefirsttoknowonwhatislatestfrom
MST.ph,simplyenteryouremailbelowto
getstarted.Wedontspamdontworry!

your_email@domain.com

SUBSCRIBE

MOST VIEWED ON OPINION

COMMENTDISCLAIMER:ReadercommentspostedonthisWebsitearenotinanywayendorsedbyMST.ph.

Loading please wait...

Commentsareviewsbymanilastandardtoday.comreaderswhoexercisetheirrighttofreeexpressionandtheydonot
necessarilyrepresentorreflectthepositionorviewpointofmanilastandardtoday.com.Whilereservingthispublications
righttodeletecommentsthataredeemedoffensive,indecentorinconsistentwithMST.pheditorialstandards,MST.ph
maynotbeheldliableforanyfalseinformationpostedbyreadersinthiscommentssection

LATEST NEWS

9 Comments

Manila Standard Today

Login
NEWS
Share Favorite

Sort by Best

Loadingpleasewait...

Join the discussion

Sam DeAsis

TECH
MOTORING

a day ago

If there's a separation of church and state then why INC is being allowed the practice that
their 5 million members vote a particular candidate after a secret 'vetting process' which
many speculate is actually a "bidding process". Because of the 'solid vote' the free
political exercise is affected because in a close election contest, their solid votes will make
a big difference making INC as a virtual "kingmaker". Also, incumbents are afraid to
introduce legislation that will earn the ire of INC or lost 5m votes in next election. The
"contractuals" issue in SM and other firms is another example and these are not religionrelated. If these are not "State interference" then what is it? INC should be taxed.
4

SPORTS
BUSINESS
OPINION
ENTERTAINMENT
LIFESTYLE

Reply Share

REAL ESTATE

amelius23 > Sam DeAsis

12 hours ago

Quote"Once you are endorsed by the INC in any election you can do what you
must, i.e. you can buy votes openly of bobotante even a week before election day
in the presence of local PNP Chief and local Comelec registrar in your municipality
since once yo are endorsed by INC they do not want you to lose, hence, they will
allow you to do your way one way or another, but win that election or
else!!"Unquote.
1

ADVERTISEMENT

Reply Share

WJGBalderama > Sam DeAsis

20 hours ago

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/16/church-state-and-francis/

2/4

1/17/2015

Church, state and Francis - Manila Standard Today

Why are you so afraid of the INC and the rich? Are they your bogeymen? Were you
mistreated or abused by them as a young boy?
Reply Share

Sam DeAsis > WJGBalderama

10 hours ago

I beg to disagree on your logic "I'm so afraid". On the contrary, I think it's
the reverse and may be risking my butt. My only plea is that I have a twin
brother. Just in case... make sure it's me and not him. And, yes... we (not
only me but most of Pinoys) were abused and still being abused by the rich
because of greed. I'm not a communist but at present, a child born in a poor
family is 90% sure that he will be poor also no matter how hard he strive.
You can dig all year for water for your thirsty family, but you will find nothing
because your rich neighbor have siphoned them all and stored in their
backyard. What will you do?
3

Reply Share

Juan Barili > Sam DeAsis

an hour ago

Baldi and logic are opposites. It can not happen.

Juan Barili

Reply Share

a day ago

Incapacity of reason created by fanaticism

1

Reply Share

Marcos Polo

a day ago

Walang masama kung bigyan ng special treatment ang pope francis!

He is pope and president of Vatican!
Sana makatulong ang pope upang mas lalong maging mabuti ang mga pilipino!at
maunawaan ang pinaaabot niya sa lahat!lalo na sa mga maykaya at nakakaalwan at sa
lahat ng namumuno sa gobyerno!
Wag sanang pang limang araw lang ang maging kabutihan ng mga tao!
1

Reply Share

WJGBalderama

20 hours ago

Fortunately, all the stops were pulled for Pope Francis as a head of state, not as the Vicar
of Christ. Who are we to argue? What's a few million pesos for a good cause?

Reply Share

Juan Barili > WJGBalderama

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php
banner=18)

an hour ago

You are prancing naked with pesos in your G-string again? Tssk tssk. A freak of
nature beyond all others. The pope must meet with you.

Reply Share

WHAT'S THIS?

ALSO ON MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Francis: Save the poor

2 comments 9 hours ago

MarX1516 You said? "Pope Francis for

Rights groups rap news blackout on

detainees
1 comment a day ago

Janitor in Makati City Hall !"At ikaw? Para sa

Presidente ng mga myembro ng so

PNoy slams priest-critics in front of his

visitor

Juan Barili Anything required to hide the

truth from the pope will be done. It usually

fails because the ones in charge and

Visit off to rousing start

31 comments a day ago

43 comments 9 hours ago

June Bamba i was a bit turned off when i

saw the the author of the despicable dap,

butch aBAD (as well as binay), kissed

leomar101 What a scumb president

whose brain is good enough in blaming the

past administration infront of an

Subscribe

Add Disqus to your site

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php
banner=19)

Privacy

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.clickthrough.php
banner=35)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/16/church-state-and-francis/

3/4

Church, state and Francis - Manila Standard Today

Advertisement

1/17/2015

LearnMore

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/panel/banner/home.c
banner=44)
BACKTOTOP

MOBILEVERSION(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CMAD/D2M/)

(http://manilastandardtoday.com/)

QUICKLINKS
HOME

PRIVACYPOLICY

LET'S CONNECT

SECTIONS

FACEBOOK

NEWS

OPINION

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/)
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/PRIVACY
(HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MANILA.STANDARD.TODAY)
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/)
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/
POLICY/)
2FPJIBldg.,Railroadcor.20thSts.,PortArea
Manila,Philippines
Trunkline:(632)5211120to22

RSSFEED

LINKPOLICY

TWITTER

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/FEED/)
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/LINK
LINKEDIN
POLICY/)
ABOUTMST

USERAGREEMENT

TODAYONLINE/)

EMAILUS

AGREEMENT/)

SHOWBITZ

MOTORING

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/
LIFESTYLE

SPORTS

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/LIFESTYLE
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/
REALESTATE

ADVERTISE

BUSINESS

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/REAL
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/ADVERTISE/)
ARTICLEINDEX

2/)

YOUTUBE

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/ABOUT
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/USER
MANILASTANDARD

TECH

(HTTP://TWITTER.COM/MSTANDARDTODAY/)
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CATEGORY/TECH
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/

ESTATE/)

CONTACTINFO

(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/ARTICLE
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/CONTACT
INDEX/)

INFO/)

SUBSCRIBE
(HTTP://MANILASTANDARDTODAY.COM/SUBSCRIBE/)

Copyright2013ManilaStandardToday

PoweredBy:LEENTechNetworkSolutionsInc(http://www.leentechsystems.com)

(http://WEBSITE.com/)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/16/church-state-and-francis/

4/4