“Too Much Charisma Would not be Helpful: State and Church Charismatic Intervention Relations”

States and laws did not sprout out from nowhere. Even such complex and controlling factor in the society has its origin and root of establishment. One of the theories that explains the construction and establishment of states and governments are said to be guided by the Divine Right Theory or Divine Right of Kings. The theory explains that the leaders and head of states are guided by a supreme being and they are from a divine origin [1]. It also considers the political and religious aspect of the establishment of states. Furthermore, the theory elaborates that a divine intervention is present in the administration of these said leaders. With relation to the theory of the origin of states, laws are formulated, created and implemented. One of the known origins of laws is the Natural Law. Rolando Suarez (2011) defined Natural Law as the force and authority coming from a supreme being [2]. Moreover, it is classified as the most supreme law of all due to its binding doctrine.  Given such origin of the two governing elements of the society, it is undeniably that both the state and the law have their divine sparks.

Asian, western and other roots of civilizations have first established their government or head through the guidance of their said religions. In the Philippines, before the Spaniards came and conquer the country, religion has been a contributing factor in the barangays. High-Priests serve as the right hand or political advisors of the barangay or village chiefs. Religious matters work closely with the mandates of the chiefs. Then came the reign of the Spaniards. The colonizers were successful in creating a central government and spreading the Catholic belief. The government and the church in that time had been using each other to advance their target plans [3]. The government uses the church in order to connect with the people and to organize them, while the church uses the government in providing ordinances and laws that would benefit itself. Both entities acted to enrich their own institutions through the guidance and usage of each other but it proved their close relations [4]. However, such drive had subsided when the Americans came to replace the Spanish regime. The government and its new legislators had suppressed the connection of the church with the state. They acknowledge such external factor to be irrelevant in advancing what is proper and just for the governization of the country. Furthermore, they consider it as an entity that would provide biases and irregularities in the government.

It was the innovation of the Americans that established and created the wall that separates the church and state relations. However, the charisma and control of the church Is still considerably an important factor in the politics, government and nation [5]. Due to some church activities, protests had been successful, people that are not well recognized by the government get recognition, clergymen had entered politics, they had been a game changer in the elections and lastly, they had been a subtle controlling factor in the moral activities and actions of the said leaders of the country.

From candidate endorsements to block voting and to winning positions, a religious movement could put you in power in just the proper cooperation of their members. When a person who is aiming for power started campaigning with blessing of a certain religious movement, that person would surely look saint-like and fresh to the public which would probably help grow supporters. While getting a block vote from a congregation would definitely be a game changer to the level of competence of winning the election. With such combination, a person representing a certain religious movement could win any election. Thus, explaining the outstanding contribution and control that could religion and religious persons bring to the political-arena.

It is clearly stated to the following constitutional provisions that the church or any religious entity should be separated and not be favored by the government and letting clergymen enter politics would diminish the said separation. These provisions support such grounds:

Aricle II, Section 6, 1987 Constitution

“The Separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.”

Given the history of the actions brought by the church in the government, the constitution clearly states that these two powerful and influencing communities of power should be separated and do not overlap each other in order to avoid biases and interference in their movement.

Article III, Section 5, 1987 Constitution

“No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of political rights.”

Explaining the circumstance of separation of the church and state, the state still protects the attendees, practitioners and believers of the church or other religious movements. The state acknowledges the freedom of exercise and enjoyment of religious rights and activities without any hindrance and confinement of their belief.

Article IX, C, Section 2 (5), 1987 Constitution

“Religious denominations and sects shall not be registered as a political party, organization or coalition, by the COMELEC.”

and

Article VI, Section 5 (2), 1987 Constitution

“One-half of the seats allocated to the party-list representatives shall be filled, as provided by law, by selection or election from labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth, and such other sectors as may be provided by law, except the religious sector.” It is well acknowledge that the church other religious entities are controlling and influencing factors of the society of the country, to avoid too much interference of it to the field of politics, the state does not allow any church or religious sects to be registered as a political party.

Presenting these parts of the constitution, it clearly implies and explains that the state strongly separates church affairs with the state affairs. With the current activity of clergymen in participating in politics would surely defeat the purpose of the following provisions. Moreover, it will greatly diminish the grounds that separate both. There had been no issues regarding moral advocates entering politics to serve his fellow countrymen, however, the essence of independency of both institutions would surely be put on an unequal ground. One might over power one or it may severe or limit the other.

____________________________________

[1], [2] Suarez, R. (2013). Introduction to Law. Manila: Rex.

[3], [4] Agoncillo, T. (1990). History of the Filipino People. Manila: Garotech.

[5] Zaide, S. (1994). Philippine History and Government. Manila: All Nations Pub. Co.