Separation of Church and State during elections
By fieryfrost
@fieryfrost (316)
Philippines
March 14, 2007 12:28am CST
Let me give you a short background. The Philippines is having it's national election this coming May 14, 2007, we are going to vote for our congress representatives as well as for 12 senators. There are tons of candidates who are running and what's worse is that there are more than 2 parties (Administration, Genuine Opposition, Team Unity and the Nuisance).
Going back to my subject, there is a religious leader who suggested that they (the religious leaders of the Catholic church) should form a group that will shorten the list of senatoriables from God knows how many to 18. He's saying that as leaders, it is their duty to help and guide their followers into whom they should vote, by limiting the list. He's saying that there are still 18 in the list and it's still up to the people if they would really want to use this "guide" or not. He also said that the Separation of Church and State is non existent during elections.
My questions are, is there still a separation of Church and state during elections? Should this "proposal" be allowed by the government?
3 people like this
7 responses
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
Hello fieryfrost, haven't seen you this past few days. Before I answer your questions, I like you to know that I never voted not even once in my whole life. I was born in the Philippines but I was categorized as an "alien" here.
Back to your discussion. Lately, I noticed that the church is involving themselves more in the politics world. I don't think it's right to do so. It may only confused the voters more. As for the increasing numbers of people running for various gaovernment position, I don't think all of them really did it for the sake of our country. I dislike the celebrities entering politics too. I think they're better off as that, a celebrity. :)
@fieryfrost (316)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
Hi there! Yup been really busy with work and the pregnancy :). We're the same, I've never voted since the registration only took a few weeks and I remember being sooo busy with my board exams. I agree, there are times I don't want to go to church and hear mass because the priest's sermons would end up with tackling about politics which I just hate. I think every year, our government is getting worse, we have corrupt, convicted, awaiting conviction, celebrities, boxer etc running for the most important positions, the congress and senate.
@fieryfrost (316)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
I agree with you. There are days when I just want to close my ears and just not care! But also there are times when I pity our people, a lot of us are already poor, uneducated and here are the officials, getting richer and richer at the expense of everybody especially the tax paying citizens! I want to run for a position someday but that's still far far away :P. BTW, I am due by May, we still have to confirm to my OB if it's the 2nd or 3rd week.
@Perry2007 (2229)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
The trouble in the separation of Church and state here is the common interest these two groups have in their constituents, Although people have the right to exercise their sovereign power in election date, the church has also a moral obligation to guide their members. The Iglesia ni Christo curch also have their own influence much stronger than the catholic church has, and so are other denominations. The battle is in the voters mind.
There is an existing law on the separation of Church and State, however, The church can not dictate its members to vote on whoever they endorse but they can sugest. The government can not also disallow the church leaders to sugest "guide" to their members.
@azriel (2107)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
No, it should not. The separation of the Church and the State is not invalid just because the election is coming up. It will just cause more conflicts, and Lord knows we already have enough to deal with. We are going to revert back to the Spanish era, when what we are suppose to be doing is to move forward.
1 person likes this
@fieryfrost (316)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
Thanks for the response. I agree with you, it's like being under the Spanish rule again once again...like we're puppets which don't know how to think and needs somebody to pull and move our strings.
@haqueen (236)
• United States
14 Mar 07
first and fore most religion should not be mixed with politic ....and the moment the pulpit has entertained some sort of political issues in church ..that is the real devil him self on the alters
i dont think its a good idea to alow politic ..or religious leaders go into politic becoz politic is evil and ...leader who go that way they are more of money maker than fishers of men..
@rdurusan (624)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
Separate the church from the government totally is best.Every day of the year,the church is being used by the politicians to gain support and popularity.The politicians in turn,when elected are used by the church to gain favor in money,business and whatever.A good example is the tax exemption of the catholic schools,Banco de Oro is owned by the catholics,and many others.The church leaders of our country are not different from our politicians,they are corrupt or probably more corrupt.Imagine our morality is down,very degrading and that is the obligation of the church.If they can't do what they are supposed to do,they will make a worse choice in politics.You can see for yourself,discern and be free from the bondage of age old tradition that wrecs havocs among us Filipinos.
1 person likes this
@lvap0628 (731)
• Philippines
15 Mar 07
I agree that Separation of Church and State should be valid even during elections. However, you must also be aware that many of our fellow Filipinos do need guidance with respect to the candidates they should elect. I'm not talking about the intelligent voters or those who have had some formal education. I'm referring to the majority who belong to the poor and uneducated who will be used by these politicians one way or another. The Catholic Church has, for the most part, let its people vote for whomever they like, and where has that taken us so far? We get politicians who were elected for their popularity as actors or basketball players, or because they were given some form of help (usually monetary) during campaigns. Some candidates are so rich that they can afford to have their faces and names plastered all over the country (they get elected because people recall their names).
