Filipino Religiosity and the Blatant Corruption in our Midst
In the stricter sense of the word, Filipino Religiosity and Corruption can never exist side by side. We can say that a person is “very religious “once he enters a church or a service because, he may be “praying fervently” and in the “full view” of the whole congregation. But deep within his heart, he is a hypocrite who does religious practices so that he will gain more popularity among his cohorts and colleagues. What happens here is that the person involve lives a double standard of living: a showy religiosity and, the life of deceit. Any individual who lives this kind of life is a contributor to the corruption of the mind and belief of the people. But, the most evil form of corruption is the decay of religious practices and corruption in the society. The Filipino Religiosity and widespread corruption in the Philippines can be liken to the situation during the Middle Ages and the period of the Renaissance. Certainly, there were “some pagans among the educated men of the Renaissance; there were probably some in the Middle Ages.” “Where God hath a temple,” said Robert Burton, “the devil will have a chapel .” The Humanist critics of the Renaissance demand for reform—reform of the state, reform of the “head and members of the Church.” Christian humanists like Desiderius Erasmus, John Colet, and Sir Thomas More reminded the clergy and created genuine reform programs. They were not challenging Christian teaching; they were denouncing many aspects of the life of the clergy and the institution of the church. There is a big difference between the two. They should not be confused. Of the collapse of morality in the Renaissance and citing the court of Francis I, king of France, said: “courtesy glittered in the midst of crime, it was a robe of gold and silk covered with blood. In the medieval times, many Religious Orders and congregations proliferated because of scandals and abuses in the church. Saints Francis and Dominic rose to the occasion, and founded the two Mendicant Orders; the Franciscan and Dominican Orders. They existed to reform the seemingly “accumulation of richness of the bishops, priests, and other religious orders.” The Church was somehow “saved” in those times due largely to the sacrifices and saintly lives of the members of the Mendicant Orders. Even the society as a whole was influenced by those “Religious reforms.” Renaissance critics seconded the reform initiated by the holy men of the Middle Ages by castigating and propagating reforms in the Church and in the State. The moral degradation among the bishops (even the Pope), priests, Kings and Queens, sometimes mirror our Filipino Religiosity and the corruption in our midst. Religious authorities (all major religions) in the Philippines are sometimes involved in the conflict with the affairs of the State. To admonish their respective spiritual children who are working for the State, to live a life worthy of emulation, is their main obligation. But to go beyond of what is required and even immersed themselves with the affairs which are not ordained for them would result in a massive corruption of spirituality and accumulation of wealth. There are reports that there are some politicians who, in order to disguise their real color donate to the church so that their names would be “adorned with glitters.” Naïve church men in turn accept the “gifts” as “purely” donations. Human respect is a “grave cancer” that eats up slowly the principle of Filipino Religiosity which results to blatant corruption in the country. It is a cancer of many, of too many Filipinos. One should make and find courageous and steadfast religious Filipinos who make up a wall of defense and of honor for their religiosity. Instead, one finds so much timidity and cowardice of heart! In fact, these so-called Filipino religious (who may also be considered as enemies of their faith) exert so much effort to hide themselves for fear of being discovered and pointed at. Is it true that today, in the presence of corruption in both the Church and State, in this scandalous society that mocks and scores at anything good and pure, dominated by an atheism more animal than anyone can imagine, great courage or fortitude is really necessary in order to be firm and steadfast. Every Filipino religious should make as his own, with dignity, the cry of Saint Paul: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” (Rom.1:16) Everywhere, at home or outside, in the office or in school, among friends or enemies.” “True followers of God” know how to die, but not to compromise. Truly indeed, there is a disparity between Filipino Religiosity and Corruption because, a truly religious Filipino would stand firm and hold his ground against the countless temptations of this materialistic world. Filipino Religiosity will reach its true form once it is purified from all kinds of corruption, including the influence of corruption in the government and most especially, the corruption within the system of Filipino Religiosity. “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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