Church doesn’t speak for flock

The Catholic Church has declared “war” on President Aquino for his stand on the Reproductive Health bill.

The Inquirer’s July 27 editorial made mention of Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros admonishing the President that “he should listen to the voice of the majority of our people who are Catholics.” The premise inherent in the bishop’s statement is that President Aquino should adhere to the Church’s stance on the matter, as the Church speaks for the flock.

Let this be the issue that brings today’s reality to the Church hierarchy, and to us the citizenry, that in this matter, the Church stands quite distinct and apart from its flock.

Let this be the watershed moment in our nation’s progress toward civic maturity and governance: this crystallizes the idea in people’s minds that in nationhood, there is only the government and there is only the people. Everyone else, including the Catholic Church, or any other sectarian group, is only one among a multitude of entities with vested interests, each of which works to advance its particular causes.

As a voter, I decide—and it is for me to choose how I may decide—and, frankly, although I encourage the Church to put its views forward, I reject the notion that it is entitled to speak on my behalf because I think it is an idea that is quite unwholesome.

The Church speaks for itself, and I am quite capable of speaking for myself.

—JAY MENDOZA,

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