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Rm. N-411, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
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Prelates got away with nary a parking ticket

Press Statements
  • Office of Minority Leader Edcel C. Lagman
  • 0916-6406737 / 0918-9120137
  • 14 July 2011

 

        The contrite demeanor of the concerned bishops, capped by an irrevocable offer to return the controversial vehicles, mollified the Senators and the prelates got away with nary a parking ticket.

         In a country where more than 80% are Roman Catholic, it is not surprising that the Church of the majority gets equities.

         The following relevant facts and issues have conveniently been overlooked in the top billed “senatorial inquisition”:

         1) The Catholic Church is admittedly rich and can well-afford to finance its charity works without getting financial assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) whose exclusive beneficiaries are the poor and marginalized;

         2) The solicitation or acceptance of PCSO donations by Bishops is hypocritical because the Church is supposed to be against any and all forms of gambling, while the funds of the PCSO come from gambling operations, albeit legalized;

         3) The constitutional injunction against the appropriation, payment or application, directly or indirectly, of public money or property “for the use, benefit or support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution, or system of religion, or any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher, or dignitary” is not lifted or excused just because the government assistance is to promote the Church’s or minister’s charity activities.

         The ban does not look at the purpose of the assistance or donation but is concerned as to whether the aid would benefit, directly or indirectly, the religious recipient.

         Funding the charity efforts of the Catholic Church benefits the Church because it enhances its reputation as the “benefactor of the poor”, in the same manner that when a politician assists in relief operations his image or advocacy is projected.

         4) The ban allows a limited and specific exception when the appropriation or property outlaid or donated is for a priest, preacher, minister, or dignitary “who is assigned to the armed forces or to any penal institution, or government orphanage or leprosarium.”  Since the subject bishops do not fall under the exception, they are necessarily included in the prohibition of the general rule.

         Unfortunately, there is no implementing statute imposing sanctions for violations of the doctrine of separation of the Church and the State.