Sagip Partylist Rep. Wants to remove Rodante Marcoleta crosses or crucifixes hung in the rooms of hospitals. They will only be placed if the patient wishes. It means, “optional.” A bill was tabled by the Congressman in this regard.
Most or most Filipinos are Catholics and other Christian sects who value the symbols of their faith. Marcoleta’s bill is an attack on the faith of the majority of Filipinos. In addition, many hospitals are run by Catholics and are still named after saints.
Marcoleta was criticized by the people who valued their faith because of the House Bill 4633 he was promoting. We know that Marcoleta is a member of the Iglesias ni Cristo (INC) who does not believe in the physical symbols of religion. Of course, even the high leadership of INC will not favor what the legislator proposes.
“Iginagalang natin ang ano mang relihiyon at ang kalayaang pumili ng pananampalataya ay ginagarantiyahan ng Konstitusyon. Pero nakasaad din sa Konstitusyon ang separation of the church and state. Ibig sabihin, kung ikaw ay mambabatas, anuman ang religious belief, huwag mong bayaang maimpluwensyahan nito ang iyong inaakdang batas. (We respect any religion and the freedom to choose the faith is guaranteed by the Constitution. But the Constitution also states the separation of church and state. That is, if you are a legislator, regardless of religious belief, do not let it influence your established law)
Kaya hindi dapat sumaklaw ang dikta ng kanyang pananampalataya sa pagtupad ng kanyang tungkulin bilang mambabatas ng taumbayan. Hindi lamang siya kinatawan ng INC kundi ng mga Pilipino ano man ang relihyon. (So the dictates of his faith in fulfilling his duty as a legislator of the people should not apply. He is not only the representative of INC but of the Filipinos regardless of religion) Marcoleta justifies that “the crucifixion is a symbol that not everyone believes in and it seems to ignore the faith of others.”
