Issues And Interests On Rizal Law – Do These Issues Remain Today?

Issues And Interests On Rizal Law (Church Vs Recto)

ISSUES AND INTERESTS ON RIZAL LAW – Back in the 1950s, the Philippines, much like Today, was dominated by the religious sector.

As such, the implementation of Senator Claro M. Recto’s Rizal Bill” was highly criticized by the churches. During the Spanish Occupation, Rizal authored Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

These books were a key instigator of the Philippine Revolution. However, it also portrayed the church or the religious sector as an antagonist in the stories.

Issues And Interests On Rizal Law - Do These Issues Remain Today?
Image from P. Jacinto

Moreover, Recto, during the 1955 Senate election was accused of being a communist and anti-catholic. This also led to the churches claiming that reading the novels would violate freedom of conscience and religion.

Thus, Catholic churches came together and campaigned aggressively against Recto and his bill. They urged advocates of faith to band together and write to their congressmen and senator to show opposition.

Among those who opposed the bill were groups such as:

  • Catholic Action of the Philippines
  • Congregation of the Mission
  • Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Teachers Guild

Meanwhile, those in favor of the bill were:

  • Veteranos de la Revolucion
  • Alagad ni Rizal
  • Freemasons, and
  • the Knights of Rizal

The bill was sponsored by the Senate Committee on Education and was co-written by Jose P. Laurel and Recto. However, they were opposed by only two people – Francisco SOC Rodrigo Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Decoroso Rosales.

Cuenco emphasized that Rizal attacked the practices and beliefs of the church. According to an article from Wikipedia, he stated:

The assertion that Rizal limited himself to castigating undeserving priests and refrained from criticizing, ridiculing, or putting in doubt dogmas of the Catholic Church, is absolutely gratuitous and misleading.

Additionally, Catholic schools, in protests, threatened to close down if the bill was approved. However, Recto quickly rebutted that if that were to happen, schools would be nationalized (which the church clearly did not want).

Today, issues between the government and the religious sector have been more prevalent than ever. Although this time, it’s not just the Catholic Religion that has stake in government affairs.

One of the most notable issues of the modern times concerning the church and the state was the implementation of the Reproductive Health Law.

Aside from this, the Church has been reported to become even more involved in politics. Some religions have their candidates while those opposing their beliefs were criticized heavily, swaying public opinion.

READ ALSO: El Filibusterismo – Mga Buod Ng Bawat Kabanata Ng Nobela Ni Jose Rizal

7 thoughts on “Issues And Interests On Rizal Law – Do These Issues Remain Today?”

  1. Yes, this issues still present now a days. Like the Martial Law, the church are responsible in contradicting to impliment this new law. Church use their beliefs to gain peoples side..

    Reply
  2. Well for me this issue is still remain for us because it’s already imprinted in our minds , Some are still opposing so the issue is still more active , it will still remain to the present

    Reply
  3. Considering the context of 1950’s, what issues and interests were at stake in the debate over the Rizal bill? Do these issues remain pertinent to the present?

    Reply
  4. After reading this article, I think that these issues are still active at this time of age. I believe that churches become more powerful as they can easily attract faith believers to be on their side even though the government makes a good point.

    Reply

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