a COFFEE

TABLE

E-book

R.A. 1425:

VICTORY OF THE

CHURCH OR STATE?

The Coffee Table Book is about R.A. 1425 or commonly

known as the Rizal Law. RA No. 1425 prescribes the

teaching of the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal for all

school, colleges and universities. This book will show the

debates and controversies between the Church and the

State on who really triumphed on the said bill

The Coffee Table Book aims to provide information about

controversies on the enactment of the Rizal bill. It shows

the important points or events of the two sides whether to

pass the bill or not.

GROUP HISTORIANS:

Binas, Nigel > Cai, Michael > Chua, James > Chua, Justine >

Datinguinoo, Richman > Gaddi, Francis > Lin, Nicole

INTRO

DU

CTIO

N

Introduction

The Rizal Bill

Controversies and Debates (CHURCH VS STATE)

RH Bill Connection

Similarities of the two bills

Conclusion: Our Stand

R.A. 1425 was a bill passed by

Carlo M. Recto and was the

original author of the bill in 1956.

Along side Jose P. Laurel Sr. they

sponsored the bill to have it as a

requirement to all high school and

college students to read about the

Noli Me Tangere and El

Filibusterismo and

learn more about

the life, works and

accomplishments of

our National Hero,

Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Original Author:

Claro M. Recto

The one who sponsored the bill to the Senate was Jose P. Laurel

Jose P. Laurel gave a substitue measure unanimously approved on May 12, 1956.

This was signed into law as Republic Act 1425 by President Ramon Magsaysay on June 12, 1956.

Senator Laurel explains that this will was not to sir up antagonism religious dissension, much less revive conflict of any character particularly in religious field.

Facts of the Bill:

Jose P. Laurel

It was not easy for the author to pass the bill due to some

factors that prevents the bill to be passed.

Factors such as the objection of

the Church and the State

“The objection is based on the fact that the two

aforementioned novels are comprehended among

the books enumerated as forbidden in Canon 1399

of the Code of Canon Law.” – Boletin Eclesiastico

“

“Father Jesus Cavenna described Noli Me Tangere as ‘an

attack on the clergy’ and alleged that the novel was not really

patriotic because out of 333 pages, only 25 contained patriotic

passages while 120 contained anti-Catholic statements.”

“In these two novels we find passages against Catholic dogma and morals

where repeated attacks are made against the Catholic religion in general,

against the possibility of miracles, against the doctrine of Purgatory, against

the Sacrament of Baptism, against Confession Communion, Holy Mass,

against the doctrine of Indulgences, Church prayers, the Catechism of

Christian Doctrine, sermons, sacramentals and book of piety.” – Number 7,

Sentence 1, Statement of the Philippine Hierarchy on the Novels of Dr. Jose

Rizal: CBCP

“Another speaker, radio

commentator Jesus

Paredes, said that since

some parts of the novels

had been declared

‘objectionable matter’ by

the hierarchy, Catholics

had the right to refuse to

read them so as not to “

endanger their

salvation.”

Government made the RA 1425 to make use of Rizal’s

books, Noli and El Fili for academics with the goal to

have nationalism and patriotism.

“It is not for that purpose that is measure is being presented, to stir any

antagonism or conflict or dissension between the different religious

groups. We need unity of purpose and unity in the execution of those

measures which are calculated to enhance and promote the welfare of the

people at large regardless of our political creed, of our religious creed and

of our political and social beliefs and prejudices.” - The Complete Works

of Claro M. Recto

“Either there was really nothing objectionable to the books

under Canon Law in the first place and that the Hierarchy’s

opposition to the original bill was motivated merely by a

desire to prevent the misbehavior of the Ministers of the

Church during the Spanish regime from being brought to

light again.”

– The Complete Works of Claro M. Recto : A Postscript

“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote these books. He aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride and patriotism, and if references were made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines in those days and to the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the church, it was because he portrayed faithfully the general situation in the Philippines as it then existed.”

Making the Filipino

realize their flaws will

prepare themselves for

the sacrifices they have

to make to attain

freedom. The only

objective of the bill is to

foster better appreciation

of our national hero’s

role in fighting for

freedom under the

colonialism of the

Spaniards, not to go

against any religion.

“If this bill, they say, passes Congress, and if the present

controversy spreads and increases, then when this bill reaches

the President for his signature, he will be placed between the

two horns of dilemma, where he will suffer politically either

way.” – Church Under Attack

“Rosales warned that rather than make students read Rizal’s

novels, Catholic schools throughout the country, numbering more

than 600 would close.”

The Bill was Retco’s revenge against the Catholic voters who

together with Magsaysay were responsible for his poor showing in

the 1955 senatorial elections.” – Narcisco Pimental Jr. Radio

Commentator

“In Bacolod, Bishop Manuel Yap warned conventioneers that

lawmakers who would vote for Noli-fili Bill would be punished in

the next election.”

CH

URCH

RESU

LTS T

O T

HREATS

The Rizal Law

was a result of

compromise and was

finally implemented.

“A vast majority of our people are at the same time Catholics

and Filipino Citizens. As such, they have two great loves:

their country and their faith. These two loves are not

conflicting loves. They are harmonious affections like the

love of a child for his father and for his mother. This is the

basis of my stand. Let us not create a conflict between the

government and the Church.” – Senator Francisco Rodrigo

R.A. 1425 BEFORE

RH BILL NOW

What is HOUSE BILL 5043 ?

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY ON REPRODUCTIVE

HEALTH, RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD AND POPULATION

DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RH

BIL

L: A

REFRESH

ER

The reproductive health bill is one of the controversial issues in

the country nowadays due to its urgent signing of the government

which is not supported by the religious sector. Since then, the RH

Bill has been a contentious social issue because it opposes two

powerful sectors with each other – the Church and the

development non-government sector supported by government

technocrats.

The very name

“contraceptive” already

reveals the anti-life

nature of the means that

the RH bill promotes.

These artificial means are

fatal to human life,

either preventing it from

fruition or actually

destroying it. Moreover,

scientists have known for

a long time that

contraceptives may cause

cancer. Contraceptives

are hazardous to a

woman’s health.

Our own government

statistical office has

concluded that there is no

overpopulation in the

Philippines but only the

over-concentration of

population in a number of

urban centers.

Condoms provide a false

security that strongly entices

individuals towards increased

sexual activity, increasing

likewise the incidence of

HIV/AIDS. “Safe sex” to

prevent HIV /AIDS is false

propaganda.

To manage

population And to prevent

unwanted

pregnancies

SIMILARITIES OF THE TWO BILLS

There are striking similarities between the

two bills. First, they have one common

enemy which is the Church. Second, the

church also issued pastoral letters on the

parishes telling about the bill. Third, there

is an issue or keep on insisting about the

separation between the Church and the

State.

Conclu

sion

Although, the state

triumphed over the Church

in R.A. 1425, we can still

say that the Church also

won because it was a result

of a compromise bill and

the revisions made are

prior to the Church.

Now that the Noli Fili bill had already been

passed, it’s now time for us to decide if it

did us good or not. The Second bill, RH Bill,

is going through the same process

What do you think given these

arguments?

Will it do us good or

worsen

the situation?

YOU DECIDE!

Ipinasa kay:

Dr. Ronaldo Mactal

KASPIL1- S14

All

Rights

Reserved

2012