CBCP exec to Panelo: No law prohibits Church from speaking up

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday hit back at presidential  chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo over his argument on the separation of Church and State.

In a forum, CBCP’s executive secretary for permanent committee on public affairs Fr. Jerome Secillano said that the recent statement of the CBCP calling out the administration is part of its obligation.

“Ang pakikisangkot dito ng Simbahan ay isang moral na obligation at bahagi din ito ng tinatawag na prophetic mission ng Simbahan,” Secillano said.

“Wala namang nagbabawal na batas na ang Simbahan ay hindi puwede magsalita, pumuna sa mga nangyayari sa lipunan,” he added.

In a pastoral letter dated July 16, 2020, CBCP denounced the government’s “pattern of intimidation,” citing the passage of controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the shutdown of ABS-CBN due to the non-renewal of its franchise by Congress, and the alleged harassment of media personalities.

On Sunday, Panelo said the pastoral letter “appears to have” violated the doctrine of the separation of Church and State as mandated by the Constitution.

Secillano pointed out that the separation of Church and State means the State should not set its own religion, people can choose their religion, and public funds should not be used to support any religion.

He noted that people who studied law, like Panelo, clearly understand this principle.

"Hindi ko malaman kung bakit ganoon ang naging statement ni Atty. Sal Panelo. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang kanyang naging motibo,” Secillano said.

“Ina-assume ko na malinaw at alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng separation ng church at state,” he added. —KBK, GMA News