racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Sassy Lawyer posts on the Philippine Government’s declaration of a three-day mourning for period for the Pope’s death.

A religious event, including the death of a pope, is not a state
concern. It may be Gloria Arroyo’s personal concern but she has no
right to transform her personal religious beliefs and loyalty to the
Catholic church into an official act of the state. This is a disrespect
to every non-Catholic Filipino. Are they less Filipino than the
Catholics?

MLQIII responds.

When the sovereign, president, or whatever leader of a foreign state
dies, are state bound to honor that leader? … This is not
viewed as an endorsement of Catholic teaching per se, but as a mark of
official respect to the person of the late Pope. Therefore
diplomatically, by reasons of protocol and public opinion, and by any
measure of the laws of nations and specifically states that profess the
separation of church and state, it’s appropriate.

Note that Sassy’s post has quite an active discussion/comment thread.

My take: I agree with MLQIII.

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