The Separation of Church and State: An Illusion of Dichotomy? (Part 2)

The end of the Marcos regime and the Presidency of Cory Aquino in 1986 were made possible by a call from the Catholic church leader Cardinal Jaime Sin, for Filipinos to unite and support the initiative of military leader General Fidel V. Ramos and National Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile. President-elect Aquino, known for her religious dedication, invited church leaders in her state consultations. Notably, her term is recognized as having integrity and credibility.

Present trends show religious leaders becoming political activists in churches or marching in the streets, and even running as political candidates, with their supporters growing in number through the years. The few who were elected still have to make their mark. One still has to make it to the Presidency.

Perhaps the more pressing issues are those that come closest to the Filipino’s orientation as believers, those that have something to do with preserving human life. When the government allows artificial means of birth control to manage population increase, the citizens who are also church faithful are put in a “split living” situation which affects their psychological health. Also, they worry over the youth who could have access “over the counter” for these products which could push them to “unguided sexual experimentation”.

The church has shown instances of being relevant from time to time, though, like allowing the practice of cremation even when traditional church thought requires the body to be untouched after death in preparation for the resurrection.

However difficult living with this dichotomy has become for Filipinos, other times have proven that the pendulum could swing long enough towards the good and the positive. Compromises could be reached and controls installed. The challenge remains in finding the formula.

Read Part 1 here.