alt=A photograph of a broadcast journalist holding a microphone to Carlos Celdran as he speaks in an interview. A crowd of demonstrators stand behind him, one holding a sign which reads "11 women die every day due to pregnancy & childbirth causes. SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES PASS THE RH Bill NOW!"|Carlos Celdran being interviewed on-camera at a pro-Reproductive Health Bill rally at the Philippine Congress in November 2009 Popular Filipino social commentator and tour guide Carlos Celdran staged a protest action in Manila, Philippines against church opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill. Dressed as Jose Rizal , Celdran, 37, entered Manila Cathedral during a mass with Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim , Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales , the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams , and other Catholic bishops present, standing before the altar with a sign bearing the word "Damaso" — a reference to the villainous, power-wielding Spanish friar from Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere , who represents the abuses of the Catholic Church during the 19th century Spanish occupation of the Philippines. He shouted "Stop getting involved in politics!" before he was taken away by the police at around 4:30 p.m. Once outside, Celdran said the Church officials "need to hear what the Filipinos are saying: that 90 percent of the people want the RH [Reproductive Health Bill]." At around 8:15 p.m. the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines filed charges against Celdran for violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits "offending religious feelings." Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, who previously headed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA), said, "What is approved by people does not mean it is approved by God." Celdran was freed almost a day later on 6, 000-peso (US 138) bail. Friends of the artist had set up a Facebook fan page calling for his release, drawing more than 12,000 supporters by the time he posted bail.
alt=A photograph of a broadcast journalist holding a microphone to Carlos Celdran as he speaks in an interview. A crowd of demonstrators stand behind him, one holding a sign which reads "11 women die every day due to pregnancy & childbirth causes. SAVE WOMEN'S LIVES PASS THE RH Bill NOW!"|Carlos Celdran being interviewed on-camera at a pro-Reproductive Health Bill rally at the Philippine Congress in November 2009 Popular Filipino social commentator and tour guide staged a protest action in Manila, Philippines against church opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill. Dressed as , Celdran, 37, entered during a mass with Manila Mayor , Manila Archbishop , the Papal Nuncio Archbishop , and other Catholic bishops present, standing before the altar with a sign bearing the word "Damaso" — a reference to the villainous, power-wielding Spanish friar from Rizal's novel , who represents the abuses of the Catholic Church during the 19th century Spanish occupation of the Philippines. He shouted "Stop getting involved in politics!" before he was taken away by the police at around 4:30 p.m. Once outside, Celdran said the Church officials "need to hear what the Filipinos are saying: that 90 percent of the people want the RH [Reproductive Health Bill]." At around 8:15 p.m. the filed charges against Celdran for violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits "offending religious feelings." Bishop Arturo Bastes, who previously headed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate (CBCP-ECBA), said, "What is approved by people does not mean it is approved by God." Celdran was freed almost a day later on 6, 000- ( 138) bail. Friends of the artist had set up a Facebook fan page calling for his release, drawing more than 12,000 supporters by the time he posted bail.
D
Carlos Celdran
D
Jose Rizal
D
Manila Cathedral
D
Alfredo Lim
D
Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
D
Edward Adams
D
Noli Me Tangere
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Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
D
Sorsogon
R
000-peso (US
000- (