The Church and Rizal

Gelacio, Julian Alexandrine GERIZAL – XZ31
The Church and Rizal
On December 30, 1896, Dr. Jose P. Rizal was shot to death by the Spanish colonial authorities
for having rebelled and incited such against the Catholic Church and Spain. He was charged
and convicted of sedition and insurrection against the “mother country”. In today’s judicial
system, the evidence brought against him would not have been able to have him convicted.
What the Spanish saw as inciting rebellion and sedition were critical writings about the injustices
of the Spanish regime, being a member in “subversive” organizations like the Masonic lodges,
and forming La Liga Filipina, an organization of citizens who wished for social and political
reforms.
Another charge against Rizal was “separatism”, which was due to questioning the authority of
the Catholic Church and its officials. This was akin to heresy: one of the greatest crimes that
one could commit in Spanish-era Philippines. At the time, the Church considered itself as the
institution and authority of divine order on earth.
The priests and friars believed that by doing their jobs, they were keeping up the public order
and morals, as well as the source of knowledge. Unlike the civilian government, which they
considered to be weak and immoral, they were the most effective tool in keeping the Filipinos
devout Catholics and loyal to the colonial government. By equating the Church with the Spanish
civil government, any criticism against them was considered as insurrection.

One thing to keep in mind is that Rizal was not an expert on religion. His ideals were the result
of his numerous experiences, his education, and readings, as well as a result of his trials in
fighting and criticizing the social, political, and economic problems of the time. His thoughts on
religion were articulated with his ideas on what a just and humane society should be like. In this
sense, his sense of religion was not derived from devotion to a doctrine, but rather, through a
perspective that was humane and existential: something that was based on love, compassion,
and devotion to the service of others rather than himself.
Even after the Filipinos of the modern day have learned that the Church has been instrumental
in continuing the 333 years of colonization, it still continues to possess a strong hold on
Philippine politics. In the 1950s, the Church and its officials were vehemently against the signing
of the Rizal Law, on the basis that it was heretical and would lead Filipinos astray from the
Catholic faith. They claimed that it would violate the freedom of conscience and religion. This
was almost 70 years after the novels of Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were published.
The Church of more than a century ago used the same power they had in preventing the Filipino
people from reading Rizal’s works. Catholic schools throughout the country even went so far as
to threaten to close down in protesting against the instatement of the Rizal Law. It also should
be mentioned that Jose Rizal himself, when he was alive, was excommunicated when he joined
the Masonry.
However, one can say that Rizal, through his dedication to the people of the Philippines and
fighting for their rights, had held up many of the basic tenets of Christianity. He wanted to be
close with the progressive side of the Spanish who fought against inequality, injustice, and
stood for the brotherhood of all men. He defied much of the Church’s authoritarian ways that
sought to hamper freedom to think and express grievances. He wrote passionately against and
criticized the corruption and abuses that were rampant throughout the institution.
His Christianity was not based on the doctrines in the Bible, nor was it reliant on an institution of
friars and clergymen. He also was not a follower of rituals, sacraments, and ceremonies. He
instead wanted for the Church’s authorities to spend more time on cultivating reason and virtue.
He taught that true Christians are those who love and are charitable towards everyone, and that
all humans possessed morality at their core. He also believed that humans were given the
ability to think and reason for themselves, rather than have it dictated to them by an institution,
making them responsible for all their choices and actions.
Rizal constantly called for people to strive and use their own reasoning as the best means to
reach God. However, he did not try to insult the Catholic faith himself, and appreciated sincere
acts of piety and devotion. He was also very spiritual, as he still believed in the existence of
God. He remained open-minded and sincerely wished to learn more about the Catholic faith on
his own terms. However, he still employed logical reasoning and earnestly searched for
evidence to validate doctrines.
The execution of Rizal in what we now know as Luneta Park, only succeeded in killing him
physically. Despite the Church’s attempts at banning his two books, it did not stop the Filipinos
from reading them and becoming inspired by his ideas. What Rizal was teaching was to fight for
one’s rights and that they should not suffer the abuse of an institution that claims to know God
better than the average person. It is true that Rizal rebelled against the Church, but Christian
morality helped form the foundation for Rizal’s beliefs and ideas. Rizal and his influence did not
weaken or threaten Christianity in the Philippines; what he fought against was the greed,
corruption, ignorance, abuse, and inequality that was perpetuated by the institution.

The Church and Rizal

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Church and Rizal

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Church and Rizal

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gelacio, Julian Alexandrine GERIZAL – XZ31

The Church and Rizal

institution and authority of divine order on earth.

civil government, any criticism against them was considered as insurrection.

and devotion to the service of others rather than himself.

making them responsible for all their choices and actions.

evidence to validate doctrines.

You might also like