Pala-isip

An insightful writing by Father Robert Reyes. Here's an excerpt. Padre Damaso of Noli and Fili fame is a black eye to the Philippine Church then as well as today. To be a priest and called Damaso is not so pleasant to say the very least. Carlos Celdran’s creative protest in front the altar of the Manila Cathedral against the Church’s position on the RH Bill has now earned him the verdict of guilty and a jail sentence of more than a year. I will not go into either the merits of the case or prolong the discussion on the RH Bill, I wish to go through the multi-tiered pain represented by the name Damaso. Is Carlos Celdran in pain? Yes, but not in the way that others may understand. I know him and he is a friend. He is a bona-fide citizen of the Republic of the Philippines. We have shared much about the excesses of the Catholic Church long before he ever thought of his “Damaso act” in the Manila Cathedral. Carlos’ pain is that of a Catholic who ask questions and seeks ans...

From the Inquirer . MANILA, Philippines—The Metropolitan Trial Court found tour guide and Reproductive Health advocate Carlos Celdran guilty of offending religious feeling under Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. Based on the ruling issued by MeTC Branch 4 Judge Juan Bermejo Jr., Celdran is meted with an indeterminate sentence of 2 months and 21 days of imprisonment to a maximum of one year, 1 month and 11 days of imprisonment. “Wherefore, premises considered, accused Carlos Celdran is found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of Offending the Religious Feelings under Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code and applying the Indeterminate Sentence Law, there being no mitigating and aggravating circumstance, he is hereby sentenced to suffer imprisonment of two months and 21 days as minimum to one year, one month and 11 days…” the MeTC Branch 4 said in its ruling. The lower court gave credence to the testimony of witnesses saying “the positive declaration of the witness...

The Philippine Catholic Church leaders has called on their members to boycott tax payment as a form of protest against the RH Bill. The Citizens Alliance for the Protection of Human Life has threatened to mount civil disobedience by not paying their taxes if the reproductive health bill is enacted into law. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said that "protesters going on civil disobedience by refusing to pay taxes must be prepared to end up in the slammer." President Aquino warned this was seditious. Catholic bishops said they would rather risk jail time than drop their opposition to the measure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it that the church doesn't pay any taxes? I don't know if priests pay taxes, but if they don't, how can they call on their followers to break the law and risk going to jail when they in turn risk nothing? That's quite unfair isn't it? I understand the Catholic Church's need to defend their stance on the RH Bil...

Since the biggest issue in the Philippines right now is the Reproductive Health Bill and the threat of President Noynoy Aquino being excommunicated by the church. I think this video is explains pretty well the state of the nation in regards to its population.