Religion and Politics

Art. 5, Title 3 of the 1898 Malolos Constitution says “The state recognizes the freedom and quality of religious worship as well as the separation of church and state. The Malolos Constitution was made by Filipinos without help from other nations. Art. 3, sec. 7. of the 1935 Commonwealth Constitution says “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof and the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession without discrimination shall forever be allowed”. The 1935 Constitution on religion was inspired/imposed by USA because we were an American colony from 1896 to 1946.

The 1986 Constitution retained the Malolos (1898) and the commonwealth (1935) concept of religious freedom and separation of church and state. Thus art 2 sec. 6 declared “the separation of church and state shall be inviolable”. Donald Trump is the 2024 candidate of the republican (Grand Old Party/G.O.P.) for president during the Holy week (March 23-30). In a nationwide Presidential Campaign program Trump endorsed a King James version of the bible.

The Trump-endorsed bible is different from all other bibles. It contains the 1. Constitution,  2. The bill of rights, 3. The declaration of Independence, 4. The pledge of allegiance, 5. Parts of the lyrics of folk singer Greenwood’s song “God bless the USA”, 6. The cover of the Trump-endorsed bible does not have a cross or any symbol of Christian traditions. The front cover is filled with the American flag. The messages that seem to be the blessings of the heavens is only for Americans. Christianity is not exclusive for USA, it is part of the culture/tradition all over the world. The propagation of the Trump bible might send the wrong messages to 1. 4 billion Christians is that they are inferior to USA.

Strangely neither they nor any Christian group can stop printing, giving and selling of Trump’s bible. The US Constitution is clear on the separation of the church and state. The US government cannot interfere in the way some Americans may use it; for Evangelization on for political purposes, blasphemy? The use of Trump’s bible also part of freedom of speech and religious freedom. Religious tolerance can be good or bad, depending on which side you’re on.