The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-03-06

Dg the fnlllpplHe f1leEdfCny IN the
wake of recent charges published
in the Sentinel, national Catholic
weekly. 1t was printed in leading
Manila newspapers in the form of
an open letter.
Entitled "A Time to Speak" the
Bishops letter declared that there
has recently been brought to our
attention evidence of the most Sc
rious kind that Secretary of Edu-
cation Cecilio Pu.ong, Director of
Public Schools Benite Pangilinan,
and Assistant Director of Public
Schools Venancio Trinidad have
been, since 1949, members Of Sc
cret committee for the elimination
of religious instruction in public
schools"
The committee, the Bishops as
serted, was organized by the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Ma
sons of the Philippine Islands.
THE Sentinel prinTed what IL
said was a photostsiie copy of
document which showed that the
secretary of education and the di-
rector and ASSISTANT director Of
public schools were members OF
fhe Masons' committee. At re.
cent convention of the Holy Name
Society in Manila petition was
drawn up asking President Elpidio
ouirino TO remove the three Off
eiaIs because of their opposition
to religious instruction in the
schools. Mr.. PsngiIinsn recently
was named UnderseeretarY of Edu-
cstion.)
Several Catholic Action organi-
zations had requested the govern
ment to inquire into the situation,
the Bishops declared adding, how
ever, that mo cognizance was TAX
en- of this reasonable petition"
ION the contrary" the Bishop
stated, "the appointment of Mr..
Pangilinan to the post of Under
secretary of Education was actually
made. Bishop Mariana Madriaga of
Lingayen, chairman of our Episco-
pal Commission on Education,
wrote to His Excellency the Pres
ident stating that such an appoint
ment would be interpreted as a de-
liberate refusal to take into con-
sideration the legitimate views and
desires Of the Catholic people of
the Philippines" :"
Speaking directly to Catholic Ac-
tionists. the Bishops went on TO
say:
"AIl Filipino citizens have an
equal right to demand that public
officials who seem TO have no
seruples about entering into secret
agreement 10 render . constitution
al provision ineffective while out
wsrdly paying iip-serv,ce TO il be
at once removed from positions of
public trust. We think il proper
TO make the following suggestions
for your guidance.
I'VE wish to ensure that the OPP
tional religious instruction now
authorized by law should be sin
cerely promoted without evasion or
mental reservation by the officials
entrusted with the administration
of our public schools.
THE documentary evidence of
the membership of the three high
est officials of our educational sys-
TENS in secret committee for the
elimination of religious instruc-
ton in public schools is a fact. You
will, therefore, De perfectly justi-
fled in taking up this matter with
your elected representatives in
Congress. You may propose that
Congressional inquiry be made in
to the implementation of the laws
regarding religious instruction by
the three officials mentioned"
Meanwhile, the Bishops added,
"the confirmation of Mr. Pangili-
mans appointment should be sus-
pended"
The Bishops concluded their let