Separation of Church and State?

Ben Contreras .

RELIGION is the opium of the poor and millions have been addicted to it because if one just possesses faith without question, He will provide. The poor are tempted to do nothing because they believe, with faith, He will provide, and that includes food. Funny, it’s not just the poor that are addicted to religion. The rich, too, are. Take note how they are willing to share their wealth to the Church in great amounts but pittance to those who really are in need. Usahay, masuko pa pangayoan.

If you have the gift of tongues, spread religion. Be a priest or a pastor. Save for those who truly evangelize, look at how many we have now that commands millions of followers. The believers made them millionaires or even billionaires. That’s how addictive religion can be.

The Church today is not just rich but powerful and influential, too. And because politicians seek their blessing and support, the more it corrupts the mind of wayward servants of God. They will try to get what they want by hook or by crook. Oh, never mind Him. He will understand. Hah!

And so, when the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board came up with an opinion about the violations committed by the Church, they fought back with their defenses, among them is the doctrine of separation of Church and State.

Let’s take a peek into the salient points of the HLURB resolution on the issue.

“The complainant’s main oppositions against the said project are as follows:

1. The columbarium is allegedly located in a residential area.
2. No public consultation was conducted.
3. Construction without development permit and pre-selling without license to sell.
4. Traffic flow management, exclusivity, peacefulness and related concerns.
5. Fear of the young because they are near the cemetery.

Upon evaluation and verification of thecomplaint by the Monitoring and Adjudication Division of HLURB, the following relevant findings were noted:

1. There is a failure to secure development permit.
2. There is selling without development permit.
3. There is selling without license to sell.
4. There is selling without Certificate of Registration.

The Church questioned the validity of the Cease and Desist Order on the following grounds:

1. The HLURB has no jurisdiction over the nature of the dispute filed by the Homeowners Association of Golden Glow and over the activities and structure of St. Francis Xavier Parish Church and its proposed columbarium.
2. HLURB’s imposition of its authority constitutes an unconstitutional violation of the separation of Church and State.
3. The HLURB has no authority to issue a Cease and Desist Order against the columbarium project of the Church.
4. The Cease and Desist Order was invalidly issued, violates due process and has no basis in law and did not even comply with its purported legal bases.

The hypocrisy lies in invoking the doctrine of separation of Church and State when the Church has always been interfering on State matters. The hypocrisy of the Church in their selective crusade on morality is already detestable. Now they want to our law to favor their wrongdoing. How’s that for your flock?

It’s time to support taxing the Church and their properties (real estate). If the poor who have less in life have to be taxed, why exempt the Church with its billions in properties, cash and business investments? People, including the poor donate to the Church and with this money, they build schools and universities only the rich can afford. You call that equality? Is it fair?