Radical thought on separation of church and state

When I sat in front of my computer for this article, the fact that today is a Maundy Thursday did not escape me. So, I searched the horizon for a topic that would be appropriate to the off-tangent nature of this corner. Religiosity, for which Filipinos are known, came to my mind. But, while it is the call of the day, I could not dwell on it for the simple reason that whatever little experience I got on the matter, I could only expose my incompetence. However, since I could not totally brush it aside, I thought of reaching for a happy compromise. So, here is a mixture of religion and politics, even without my pretending knowledge on politics.

We are all too familiar with the constitutional separation of church and state. As an expression of its inviolability, there are the twin clauses of free exercise and non-establishment of religion. The first clause according to former Chief Justice Enrique Fernando is about one's expression of belief or non-belief. A person is free to propagate his faith whether in a church or chapel, mosque or synagogue, tabernacle or meetinghouse or in secular places where he has a right to be.

The eminent constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas says that in its minimal sense the second clause means that the state cannot establish or sponsor an official religion. He recognizes though that this subject ranges from one extreme end to another. This clause prohibits the state from passing laws which "aid one religion, or aid all religion or prefers one religion over another".

Of late, we have seen the unraveling political horizon. Bishop Eddie Villanueva, as we all know, ran for president in 2004. It being a legitimate ambition for every citizen to run for a public office, the plans of Bishop Eddie to take another crack at the presidency is understandable. On the assumption that his flock of few million voters will cast their ballots for him, he has a built in advantage.

There is also Brother Mike Velarde of El Shaddai. During the past political campaigns, many candidates attend his services, not to pray but to court their support. Perhaps, Brother Mike might have thought that the votes of his congregation were responsible for the victory of some politicians. So, instead of helping others get elected, he may now be entertaining the idea of asking them to vote for him. Considering that, per the claims of Brother Mike, he has followers in millions, this block may catapult him to say, the presidency.

Then there is Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio. While he is a priest on leave, and that many bishops of the Catholic Church are not in favor of his running for president, he may still be considered as part of the church. The number of Catholics in this country being far too numerous compared to the other religions, Gov. Panlilio has a huge base if he decides to go for the top elected post of the land, assuming Catholic votes support him.

   The Iglesia ni Kristo, votes as a block. It is their practice to select candidates on the basis of certain well-kept criteria and endorses openly the church's choices by announcing the names of their favored candidates few days before election. No one has been elected our president who had not asked the support of the INK.

   Thus, it is clear that notwithstanding the separation of church and state, the voters of certain segments of our society, they, who to belong to religious groups perceived to nurture the candidacy of certain politicians, somehow determine the outcome of elections. This must have emboldened some religious leaders.

My questions are. When leaders entertain the belief that their election is a gift of a certain religion, will they not feel the obligation to return the favor when elected? Or will it be a good idea that, if we were to strengthen the separation of church and state, there must be laws passed in that direction like disqualifying any candidate who seeks the active support of a church block or the obliterating the tax privileges of churches who make active endorsements of politicians? Otherwise, we better write off the separation of church and state doctrine from our constitution and bahala na, labo-labo.

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