Vidal to Catholics: Oppose religious freedom measure

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Retired Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has called on the faithful to stand up against the religious freedom bill.

“This is no longer the issue of religion. It is the culture peculiar to you,” Vidal said in an interview yesterday.

He cited the devotion of Catholics to the Señor Sto. Niño as part of Filipino culture.

“Everybody should know that the devotion to Sto. Niño has entered into the culture of Cebuanos. You cannot just release that from them,” he said.

“If you touch the Señor Sto. Niño, you are also touching the culture of the Cebuanos,” he added.

Vidal recalled an incident when the public prevented a newly assigned police official from entering the Talisay police station for saying he would remove religious icons in all police stations.

Vidal urged lawmakers to hold public consultations before considering the proposed measure.

“You are not there for yourself. You are there to represent the people. If you represent us, please respect us,” he said.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia earlier said the Filipinos’ devotion to religious icons is part of the culture of the Philippines, being a Catholic country.

Garcia added that the presence of religious icons in government offices does not mean one is imposing their beliefs.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino has filed House Bill 6330 or the proposed Religious Freedom in Government Offices Act, which seeks to stop the practice of displaying religious icons and images and holding Masses and prayer vigils in government offices. – Freeman News Service