A Postscript to the Holy Week
Benedicto College
Conflicts similar to that between the mayor and the parish priest of Sta. Fe town at Bantayan Island will never be completely eliminated – meaning, it could happen again. Why so? While the situation was brought to a resolution, I suspect it’s on the surface only.
The real cause has not been addressed adequately. The cause is rooted much deeper and the links are not well defined, so unclear that they are usually left impalpable, and therefore not very well factored in in the resolution process.
Come to think of it? Are similar conflicts experienced in other predominantly Catholic or Christian countries? My personal knowledge is that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are observed like the other days of the week, as in the United States.
The crux of the matter is in our “supposed” policy of separation between the church and the state. How so? It should not be difficult to see that the state is not beholden – it is not organic to state duties and responsibilities – to keep the solemnity of the Holy Week. On the same vein, where does the Church base its assumption that the music festival “de-solemnized” the observance of Holy Week?
One might think this is putting the issue quite simplistically! Exactly, the reason why the issue exploded as a conflict is because it was made complicated. Again, how so?
In the course of sifting through the few essentials involved in the plan of holding of the music festival to the Church’s disfavor, some questions surfaced as raised by the Church.
“Why hold the festival during Maundy Thursday and Good Friday? Why not on days other those in question?” If premised that a wholesome music festival does not necessarily jeopardize the solemnity of the days’ observance, same question may be asked to counter: “Why not?”
Again, at the risk of putting things simplistically, if there can be wholesome fun during Holy Week, what is bad about it? Considering that the Church is wont to raise the issue of immorality, well, what is immoral about holding a wholesome music festival on those two days?
On the side of the Sta. Fe municipal government, the same question can be raised as well: “Why hold the music festival on those two days?” Again, the counter question: “Why not?”
So, a final proposition is: Can there be solemnity in the midst of some fun? If the church has the duty to impose solemnity by denying fun and anything wholesome for reasons it purports, is that not dictatorship – or autocratic? Imposing religious doctrine upon civilian affairs does not set well with the idea of church-state separation. Unfortunately, these cases are not uncommon in the Philippines.
In closing, it was claimed (via media reports) that the Church did not hold a protest rally against the government of Sta. Fe’s decision to allow the holding of the music festival. Oh, yeah? It did appear as a protest rally, though, in the guise of dawn procession! Simple enough.