This is new! Against Catholic mass in government offices
By Firefly
@cttolledo (5459)
Legaspi, Philippines
June 19, 2012 1:04am CST
Hello Mylotters!
You can give your opinion regarding this new issue!
This is all about proposal of Kabataan Party-list representative, to ban holding of catholic mass/ activities and putting catholic signs and images in government offices, the reason behind this is to observe equal rights among majority ( catholic) and minority ( non-catholic), it is said that those catholic activities and images will unfairly offend other's faith.
For me, those images and catholic activities are just a way of expressing catholic faith..but it doesn't implies that you are being forced to join or adhere to catholic faith..
Actually, it should not taken seriously because whether we like it or not, we are living in a catholic country and it is given that it is inevitable to encounter images, signs and catholic activities everywhere..those non catholic must begin to accept it... the point here is,law grant us all the freedom to choose our religion and right to express it .....
I think, there are a lot of important issues that must resolve first than this...
5 responses
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
19 Jun 12
Let me play the devil's advocate here. I think there's basis to the proposal because government offices had been having mass since the time of the spaniards up to now and where does that end us? Last I heard, the Philippines is still the most corrupt in asia. And where does corruption usually take place? it is in the government. Sad reality but true. Which only mean that mass has been taking place regularly but does it curtail corruption? I think not.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
21 Jun 12
I think this proposal will get a lot of heat from the moralists "kuno". But if we put everything in its proper perspective, I think it is only but fair not to hold masses in government offices, or if there has to be one, it has be in the proper place like a chapel. Don't get me wrong, I'm catholic myself, but doing mass in a place where people have diverse religious affiliations is like shoving someone's religion to another without giving them much of a choice.
@ARIES1973 (11944)
• Legaspi, Philippines
19 Jun 12
Yes! There are so many important issues that we must give importance rather than Catholic mass issue. I don't think it has an effect in any other religion in our country. We are given freedom to choose our religion and having a mass in our office, in our case we have it every first Friday, has anything to do with the freedom of choice.
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
19 Jun 12
I think it's actually first move to prove that this country isn't too much influence by the church. the church has been more politically involved since EDSA I because of Cardinal sin then and some sisters. 
@cttolledo (5459)
• Legaspi, Philippines
20 Jun 12
That is one of the reasons actually, to promote separation of church and state.
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
19 Jun 12
Hello Cttolledo, I don't believe we are a Catholic Country. You know why? one of my teachers told me that, according to the statistics, Borneo is the most dominant Catholic Country now. unlike in the Philippines, there's already an emergence of other Christian Religions too and they're huge now compare before.
I think this Bill should be appropriate to practice our Government being a country who respect the separation of state and religion. this proves that governments are in charge, not the catholic church.
@cttolledo (5459)
• Legaspi, Philippines
20 Jun 12
hi LK25!
I have one question... does catholic images & activities affects government in the exercise of its constitutional powers?....
@jeanneyvonne (5500)
• Philippines
19 Jun 12
The proposal is not bad but it might ruffle feathers. In a sense, politics, entertainment and religion has a unique way of mixing with each other and frankly, sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference anymore. I guess some people would to mind the proposal but it will certainly be a new practice and would take some time to get used to. Remember that most of what the practices today are already taught form childhood and it is into exactly easy convincing people that it is right to change those kind of things.
@yahnee (1243)
• Philippines
21 Jun 12
I am not a Catholic but I am not offended by masses or images in government offices. If the Catholics want to observe their religion in the government offices, they can do so but non-Catholics should not be forced to attend. Catholic masses are now being held everywhere including malls and the non-Catholics can just avoid the services if they are against it. We non-Catholics have no choice since we are living in a predominantly Catholic country. However, any religious ceremonies or masses must not be done during working hours especially when people have been standing around waiting for services to be provided. It is right that the law provides us with a choice of religion but what irks me is when religion becomes the basis of our laws like the RH Bill and the Divorce Bills that have not been acted upon for fear of the negative impact on Catholics. There should always be the division between religion and government as stated in our Constitution.
