This is terrible. But, in the first place, what business does the DepEd have arranging a relgious exercise for students of a public school?

[1] Connie, the worse part is that they have been doing this for 10 years.

Let's face it, even if there is a so-called "separation of the state and the church", we are not practicing it in real-situation. Who initiated Edsa Revolutions? Isn't it the voice of Cardinal Sin that gathers people to overthrow Marcos & Estrada administrations? How about during elections, why is it our presidential candidates asked the endorsements from different religious leaders (like INC, El Shaddai, etc.)? Isn't it obvious that the state itself asked the participation of the church? Personally, I don't mind the church meddling with the state's affairs as long as it is for the benefit of everyone and not just to preserve their (church) rituals, rites or traditions.
On the topic of DepEd exercising religious activities: What is wrong with that? Don't we allow public students to develop/enhance their spiritual lives? Most (if not all) public students come from poor families whose parents are busy looking for food, from a neighborhood who're busy gambling/gossipping and are with friends who are busy drinking & smoking. Who, then, will give them guidance?

My mother enrolled me to a catholic school over a chinese school. Why? because she thinks spiritual knowledge and guidance is better than learning fookien. There are mothers who want the same thing with their children but just can't afford private education. So, are we selfish enough to disallow such activities in public schools?

If you are concern with public funds, check out those politicians who are using their IRA, pork barrel, etc. for houses, cars, travels, election campaigns, casino, liquor, women, etc, etc.

For father harasser: The church (catholic) should DO something about it. And i mean, NOW! Last night, I happened to ask a priest re: sexual harassment scandal, and he said: it saddens and angers him. He reminded us that they are also human — weak. But i don't think we'll just embrace that EXCUSE. Let's punish them like what ordinary citizen gets when they committed a crime. If we can imprison a president (leader of a state), we should do the same to priests, nuns, bishops, cardinals (leaders of the church). NO EXCEPTIONS ALLOWED!
But let us separate our concept of the church from these erring clergies.

[3] Hi luv, are you angry or something?(joke lang). My point on the separation of church and state is simply anchored on the constitution which provides for the non-establishment of religion. While as a democracy everybody has the right to exercise his freedom to choose his religion, the state however is prohibited to favor, much less impose a state religion. Precisely government funds are not supposed to be allocated to sponsor a particular religious activity as this might prejudice the rights of others of different faiths.

I don't have any quarrel with the fact that children should be given the spiritual guidance that parents think is needed, but, I must say, not to favor any particular religion and not at the expense of the government.

Conducting a religious Catholic activity during class hours, and organized by the public school officials themselves, and presumably using school funds are clearly acts that violate the "non-establishment" clause of the constitution. Otherwise, balik na lang ta sa Katsila sa una nga ang mga pari gihapon ang mag-buot sa pang-gobiyerno, ug but-an ang mga tawo kung unsa ilang tu-ohan.

Whether it violates the provision on the separation of church and state is irrelevant, I think. If these allegations are true, this is another one of the many misconduct done by someone in the Catholic ministry. Such misconduct is deplorable and is a complete betrayal especially to us who come to them for guidance and help. Cases like this are rising and in recent years it forced the resignation of some bishops here in the US alone. The sad part is most of the priests involved are not persecuted in the accordance of the law - they are either transferred somewhere after being covered up by their superior or the victim is paid off to keep silent. Based on my personal experience as an acolyte(I'm sure you remember it 'Lan coz you were one too), I've seen a priest doing sexual misconduct while we were playing scrabble one night with the rest of the altar boys. The priest and the woman was seated next to each other and I was sitting across the table with the other 3 boys. The table was high and when I leaned back to my chair, I could see the priest's hand carressing the woman's legs. I was shocked and knowing that I saw it, the priest winked and smiled at me. I surely couldn't forget that event. Janet might know the priest because we had breakfast at her house one morning, courtesy of her late Dad after playing basketball. Over the course of my altar boy days' , I've seen good priests and bad one come and go. And I agree that the entire Church ministry should not be condemned because of the few who go astray but those who do should not go unpunished.

'Chard i'm glad you still remembered our altar boy days in Baybay. We were 12 or 13 years old at the time, right? We sure learned a lot of nasty things while "serving". I recalled one priest, i'm not sure if he's the same one you're talking about - he asked me and a fellow sacristan to borrow an x-rated betamax tape. I think I my first view of an x-rated movie was at the priest's room. He had a collection of all sorts of sordid magazines there. If we're thinking about the same priest - i also saw him making sexual advances with his secretary.
Can you recall the two priests fighting over the use of a car? At our tender age - we were also exposed to some form of corruption. Remember the cash collections from the barrios? Tsk tsk tsk. Those were the days.

Right or wrong, i think it only proves that priests are as human as we are. The so-called vows of celibacy deserves a second look by the church.

Regarding separation of church and state: I raised this point because this basic constitutional mandate has been blatantly ignored, if not, violated by our government for so many years. Sadly, so few raised a stink over this issue.

I sure do remember those days ‘Lan and I’m certain we are talking about the same priest. I’m writing a follow-up because just last Friday the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $60 million in settlement for the 45 people who were sexually abuse by 22 priests. This is just to show how serious this problem is. On the question of celibacy, I don’t think that without it priests would not become a molester or sexually abuser. Another misconception on this issue is, if the suppression of a man’s sexual drive destines them to molest others, then a large number of single people who live a chaste life without marrying would fall into this classification, don’t you think? Also, priest’s celibacy shows a sign of their commitment in serving their community. On the separation of church and state, I kinda agree with your wife’s comments there, it’s mainly on writing.

[7] 45 people? 22 priests? In Los Angeles alone 'chard? That terrible.

My concern on celibacy is simply based on personal and normal human experience. I do admire the countless number of priests who are able to abide by this vow. But we cannot simply ignore the sheer number of sexual abuse cases that involve members of the clergy. Thus, reason dictates that celibacy might be a factor. I'm not advocating for its outright abrogation, i'm simply asking for a review on the rationale of celibacy? Does it make one less of a Christian if he is not celibate?

Regarding separation of church and state, I don't argue that the concept of separation is perhaps true only on paper. But then, one wrong is not made right by sheer acquiescence or plain ignorance. I don't think its alright to say its okay for a law to be violated because anyway it has long been violated. Its like saying that corruption is okay because its being committed day in day out in this country.

And its no ordinary law. Its a fundamental contitutional principle. What does it say of a people who openly and brazenly violates its own constitution?

congratulization guys for arguing with a balanced mind. You certainly love the church. It seems that you were not much affected by the scandals that is happenning in the catholic church today. Let me add to your thoughts though, these sexual sins againts young boys or girls by priests ,were committed by frail human beings who happened to be priests. You were all right, they too are really human beings. They need our understaning but that does not mean that they can be out of the hook when they violate our laws. Let’s go further from critiquing them. Let’s pray for them too.

fellow, thanks for dropping by.