inside Philippine politics and beyond
For the Catholic Church, the elections this May is only about one issue – the Reproductive Health Law. It is openly endorsing senatorial candidates who they think will repeal this law and conducting a negative campaign against those who had approved the law or now openly back it. To contribute to the raging political discussion on this issue, I would [...]
By Raïssa Robles Although he wouldn’t talk to me. Last Tuesday, I wrote about Reverend Father Jose Eliseo Buenviaje who had illegally parked his car despite a “no parking” sign, while prominently displaying the sign “Priest on Call” on his windshield. My reporter’s instinct told me it was the priest driving the car. A number of commenters criticized me for [...]
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Because as far as I know, from personal experience, priests are barred from making house calls. Also, they don’t get the same privilege that doctors have, sources from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) told me today. Last Sunday, while walking along Katipunan Avenue (the other side of Ateneo de Manila University), I chanced upon this [...]
By Raïssa Robles Jesuit priest-constitutionalist Joaquin Bernas poses today an intriguing question triggered by Carlos Celdran’s conviction of “notoriously offending the religious feelings” by holding up the sign “Damaso” before top bishops. Fr. Bernas wrote in his column today at the Philippine Daily Inquirer: Finally, Article 133 also raises an intriguing question: When a priest or bishop castigates or consigns [...]
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Celdran was neither obnoxious or offensive. And Christian Monsod should know — he was there when Carlos Celdran staged his protest before some 20 senior Catholic bishops. “He looked like Charlie Chaplin to me”, Monsod said laughing, when I asked why he did not find Celdran’s action offensive. Chaplin is a well known American comedian and mime [...]
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles The crime of “offending religious feelings” – for which Carlos Celdran was convicted is unconstitutional – believes Ibarra Gutierrez III, a criminal law professor at the University of the Philippines. “I don’t think it’s constitutional,” he told me in an interview. Gutierrez gave several reasons. “First of all, it is strangely placed. It appears in [...]
By Raïssa Robles Carlos Celdran has just been found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the Crime of Offending Religious Feelings.” See below. My thanks @RedTani for sharing this. But how do you offend religious feelings? This crime is Article 133 under “Crimes against religious worship” in the Revised Penal Code. It states: “Offending the religious feelings. – The penalty of [...]
Hi, guys. I’d like to give you a glimpse of the pitched verbal battles that went on for years before the passage of the Reproductive Health Law. My husband Alan was very much a part of those battles. In his post for ABS-CBN News today, he writes about the agony, the ecstasy and the comedy of it all. Pls click [...]
Exclusive By Raïssa Robles Four months ago, a Catholic Church official explained to me why the Church was fighting tooth and nail against the passage of a Reproductive Health Law even though it would force no one to use contraceptives and would simply inform and give couples free choice of family planning methods. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines secretary [...]