BY BHEA SOTOMAYOR
IN A country where the word of God echoes louder than Senate debates, religious influence continues to bleed into Philippine politics. Several bills are struggling to make it past the required three readings because of the opposition from the Catholic Church. We now ask the question, is religion our ticket to development, or does it place our nation-building at a standstill?
Over 80% of the total population in the Philippines is Roman Catholic. While faith offers comfort, community, and identity, its influence has delayed much-needed reforms due to churches labeling them as “immoral.” It poses a significant challenge for laws to move forward despite its aim to protect the rights of the people.
Take divorce as an example. Spouses suffer from abusive and irreparable relationships yet can’t be afforded the luxury of annulment. They are merely given a slap on the wrist, forcing them to suck it up and uphold the sanctity of marriage and family life. The Philippines and Vatican City are the only countries that prohibit divorce. While the majority of our neighboring countries have moved forward to a new era, we are stuck in the same spot for centuries.
The same goes for abortion, the mere mention of which sends Catholics into a frenzy, brandishing scriptures as the supreme law of the land. Even the idea of two girls kissing has them seething with rage and slapping the public with verse after verse.
Aren’t they the same people who preach about loving your neighbor as you love yourself? Apparently, that only applies when your neighbor is straight, married, and sins quietly. The hypocrisy is staggering.
And the worst of it all? They are exempted from paying taxes. While everybody else progresses, the Church has us shackled in a medieval mindset, forcing us to picture God’s disdain if we took one small step towards the materialization of these laws.
The Philippines needs something more solid and real than prayers and texts from ancient books. It’s about time Filipinos looked beyond the gospel and realized that God, if He cares about our nation, is probably not impressed. You want to pray? Pray, as if that would make a difference.
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Rochelle Bhea Sotomayor is a third-year political science student. She is an aspiring lawyer and enjoys cosplaying as a pastime. At such a young age, she had opened her eyes to politics, as it is a constant topic in her household. Hence, she stepped into the political science field to gain more knowledge, joined her school’s organization, and participated in academic events held by her program. Her views and opinions do not reflect the institutions she is affiliated with.
