Freedom in the time of practical atheism

To the likes of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and other heroes who fought for our independence from the Spaniards until we achieved it some 113 years ago, freedom primarily meant self-determination, that is, “the right of a nation or people to determine its own form of government without influence from outside.” (Collins English Dictionary)

In his day, president Manuel Quezon—he of the acerbic tongue—famously said: “I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a country run like heaven by the Americans, because however a bad Filipino government might be, we can always change it.”

We pay tribute to the heroes and martyrs who gave their all to ensure that we would enjoy the civil freedoms—of speech, of the press, of expression, of abode, to private property and others—that we enjoy today.

Yet these same freedoms give us room to point out the many ways we are not yet free.

Many of us are still in the grip of poverty. A lot of politicians are still addicted to power and wealth. They perpetuate a culture of corruption and power plays that put ordinary people at a disadvantage. Cultural icons still adopt without qualms what is trendy yet harmful—like immodesty, rebelliousness and nihilism—in the West. Youngsters break through the fences of home only to get holed up in the labyrinth of the Internet.

These situations persist because many of us easily forget or take for granted that most valuable of all freedoms, a freedom that the priest Zechariah, father of Saint John the Baptist, sang of the day he named his son: The freedom to worship God “without fear, holy and righteous in his sight, all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74-75)

The belittling of the freedom of religion has taken many forms but is seen today in the contraceptive promotion and divorce bills pending in Congress.

For all their talk about the separation of the Church and State, it’s ironic how few libertarians are standing up and exposing these bills for what they are: meddling of the State in matters of faith and morals, interference of the State in affairs of the family—the domestic church.

I will never be able to understand what is so democratic and healthful about promoting artificial means of contraception. Research shows that the use of condoms does not erase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Countries where condoms are freely distributed actually end up with a higher number of HIV-AIDS patients.

Research shows that the use of chemical contraceptives can lead to diseases like cancer, while the use of IUDs can permanently damage wombs.

Doctors admit that chemical contraceptives and IUDs do have murderous effects when they prevent fertilized eggs, that is, embryos or new human beings from getting implanted in their mothers’ wombs.

Studies show that vasectomy makes a man susceptible to cancer, swelling and occasional pain and may render him impotent or decrease his sex drive.

And I thought freedom is fake when it leads to harm.

Now here comes the divorce bill that is diametrically opposed to the word of the Lord about marriage when he said: “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9)

The contraceptive promotion and divorce bills are not only an assault on the freedom of religion, they are also attempts to flush God out of society and make a mockery of the Constitution that we put together “imploring the aid of Almighty God.” (Preamble, 1987 Philippine Constitution)

Isn’t it audacious to ask for God’s help while promoting through legislation lifestyles that contradict his will?

Our good God is crystal clear about how a nation can live in genuine freedom and achieve progress, and it’s not through the crafting of laws that shun the truth. He said: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)