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.


Smart parenting starts with EZ Kids.

Tags: , | Viewed 862 times

Related Posts