Are Filipino Christians fighting back?

The report that big Christian organizations are flexing their muscles to campaign against pro-RH law candidates is a sign that people are taking their religion seriously against the attempts of the current leadership to denigrate it.

For years Filipino Christians, notably Catholics, have been lukewarm to bring into the forefront of national consciousness the need to protect the sanctity of their faith. Thanks to the RH law, which is a clear sabotage of Christian values and ethical standards, that nonchalant viewpoint has morphed into a crusade in defense of Christianity in this country.

Christian Filipinos believe that marriage is a sacred institution. But the RH proponents take it as a temporary union between man and woman. The former are convinced that every child is a gift of God. But the RH advocates say a child, especially while still in the womb, is a non-entity and can be disposed of like a toilet paper. The family is a divinely inspired entity. But RH enthusiasts consider it a secular unit designed for personal convenience.

Simply put, that law is not only against a basic. Filipino culture, it is antithesis to the very essence of their faith and is therefore a threat to the salvation of their souls.

Is it any wonder that Filipino Christians now feel threatened? The question, however, is how many of these Christians feel so threatened. If majority of them are, then this development should make RH identified candidates feel also threatened.

Let's do some counting. Among Catholics - numbering about 80 percent of the population or 73 million - only some 40 percent (per recent survey) or 28 million consider themselves “religious”. So this number is expected to feel threatened. But if we assume that only 50 percent of them go to the polls (and only 50 percent of that number would be anti-RH candidates) that leaves 7 million electors who would not vote for RH candidates, but would go for non RH aspirants.

The other major Christian organizations (El Shaddai, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jesus is Lord with approximately 4, 5, and 4 million members each respectively) can also muster enough strength to discourage the election of RH candidates. Unlike Catholics, these groups usually go solid in their choice so that means 13 million voters who would shun the candidates concerned. In sum, approximately 20 million voters would be turned off against these candidates, and the same number would likely vote for whoever their organizations would recommend.

Without doubt the so-called intelligent voters would kick against the idea of bringing in one's faith into the polling places. Separation of Church and State! they would shout. But they should be reminded that it was the State which first crossed the line between both institutions with its malicious RH law. On the pretext of trying to solve poverty, which the political leadership in the past and at present has been unable to even mitigate, it is now attempting to stab the Filipino conscience by crafting a law which cries against the heaven with its anti-Christian provisions.

Also without doubt they would cry, fanaticism! Maybe. But a real Christian, an ipse Cristo, is really a fanatic of sort. If he is not, then he is not a follower of Christ. Take note: “You have heard that it was said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. . .”

No, these Christians who are now fighting back for their religion do not hate their RH distracters. But neither do they like them to stay in the power corridors. Empowered, these politicians would not stop stepping upon the religions conviction of Christ's people in this country.

Look, even before the implementation of the RH law they have already come up with a divorce bill. What will they do next, if Christians do not oppose them now?