Aquino draws artists’ ire

A group of artists has criticized President Benigno Aquino III for “succumbing to the whims” of the Catholic Church despite the constitutional stipulation on the separation of Church and state and guarantees of freedom of expression.

In an e-mailed statement, UGATLahi Artists Collective called Mr. Aquino a “puppet-president” for “keeping ignorant” of various issues that involve religious leaders, and for being “mute and deaf” to the appeal of the masses.

“Under Noynoy’s term, clerico-fascism becomes more and more apparent. This is because clerico-fascism is an existing remnant of… the class-serving bias of the puppet-president,” it said.

The group cited Mr. Aquino’s “lack of interest” in pursuing cases against seven bishops who were accused in June of receiving sport utility vehicles from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Nothing significant was heard from the President when the news came out about prominent Church people—bishops and archbishops—benefitting from the state… When the vehicles were surrendered, it seemed that Noynoy’s office was not at all interested in pursuing a case against (them),” it said.

Aside from this, the group said the President seemed to turn a blind eye to the Church’s “forms of harassment against freedom of expression,” brought by alleged attempts to maintain the status quo.

The group cited the media attacks on artist Mideo Cruz, whose exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines has been condemned by several bishops and lay groups.

Cruz’s works include, among others, a crucifix with a wooden penis attached to it, a picture of the Holy Family with a condom over it, and a statue of Christ the King with rabbit ears.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has threatened to take legal action against Cruz even while they continue to campaign against legal measures that would protect the rights of others to use condoms and other reproductive health methods.

“The role of the artist is to expose the current condition of society. Art becomes a powerful tool when it discusses the prevailing social conditions. Art becomes a threat to the ruling class because it does not only have the power to enlighten the people of the current national situation, it also has the power to influence people to organize themselves and mobilize against the hegemony (of the Church),” the group said.