Damaso

Yesterday tour guide Miguel Celdran created quite a stir when he interrupted the mass at the Manila Cathedral by waving a placard with the words 'damaso' scrawled in big letters on it. When interviewed, he said he did this to voice out his objections to his perceived interference by the church to the government's policy on reproductive health.

Padre Damaso is one of the most controversial characters from the infamous book of Noli Me Tangere by national hero Jose Rizal. He was described as as self-righteous curate who used his power to get what he wanted. He was deceitful and notorious.

Maybe the placard was inaccurate in depicting the church in the same category as the character created by Dr. Jose Rizal. Nonetheless, the message that it conveyed was that the priests were acting like the infamous character in ignoring the voice of the filipinos who wanted to be given that opportunity to exercise their right to choose the family planning method that they feel would suit them. Threats of excommunication likewise did nothing to help the situation.

The Constitution specifically mandates the separation of the church and the state. Church should not meddle in government policies. Rather they should reinforce their role in guiding the followers to the teachings of the church. On the other hand the state is mandated to serve the public and protect its interest. The continued ballooning of the population is not helping to achieve this goal.

In the end it is the pinoys who will ultimately exercise that option. And hostile relations between the church and state would not do anything to remedy the problem. Miguel Celdran is a brave guy i think, nonetheless what he did was disrespectful to the church. The message is loud and clear. However, i take offense to the manner he did it.