Tour guide disrupts Mass, protests Church's opposition to RH bill

MANILA, Philippines - Manila tour guide Carlos Celdran interrupted a Mass at the Manila Cathedral yesterday afternoon to protest the religious leaders’ interference in the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Celdran, who is a known RH advocate, took church officials by surprise when he went near the altar and raised the placard with the word “Damaso,” referring to the fictional character Padre Damaso from Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli me Tangere,” which tells the abuses of the Spanish friars. Damaso, a Spanish friar, had a daughter by a Filipino woman.

One of those who witnessed Celdran’s protest said that at first no one reacted because they thought that it was part of the ecumenical prayer service for the second anniversary of the “May They Be One” Bible campaign.

It was only after he shouted, “Stop involving yourselves in politics. Politics, politics,” did the policemen approach him and escort him out of the cathedral.

Once outside, Celdran said the Church officials “need to hear what the Filipinos are saying: that 90 percent of the people want the RH.”

He then reportedly goaded the authorities to arrest him. He was later brought to a nearby police community precinct of the Manila Police District (MPD).

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, who previously headed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA), said, “What is approved by people does not mean it is approved by God.”

He also believes that it was not proper for Celdran to disrupt the ecumenical service to express his objection to the Catholic Church’s position.

When asked if he would file charges against Celdran, Bastes said he would leave it up to the police. “I have no jurisdiction over this church. It must be the Archbishop of Manila or the parish priest. I am just a guest,” he said. – With Sandy Araneta