<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citizens\u2019 Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva celebrates the passage on third reading of House Bill No. 10569 or the \u201cMagna Carta on Religious Freedom Act,\u201d describing the moment as a \u201chigh point\u201d in the country\u2019s history and perfectly timed for the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConcretizing the right to freedom of religion through an implementing law is long-overdue. And the passage could not have come at a better time, when governments are susceptible to overreaching their powers because of the global catastrophe we\u2019re facing. This is definitely a high point in the country\u2019s history and a good news to Filipino faithfuls who put unparalleled importance to their relationship with their Creator,\u201d Deputy Speaker Villanueva added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principally authored by CIBAC representatives Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Domingo Rivera, the Magna Carta on Religious Freedom covers the following rights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Right to choose a religion or religious groups
\u2022 Right to exercise or express religious belief, practices, acts, or activities
\u2022 Right to act in accordance with conscience
\u2022 Right to propagate religious beliefs
\u2022 Right to disseminate religious publications
\u2022 Right of religious worship and ceremonies to freedom and from interruption
\u2022 Right to organizational independence
\u2022 Right to freedom against discrimination
\u2022 Right to freedom against discrimination in educational institutions
\u2022 Right of companies or businesses to be founded on religious beliefs
\u2022 Right of parents or legal guardians to rear children<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFilipinos shall be encouraged to pursue their own spiritual growth according to their God-given power to choose. They shall be afforded freedom to think, to choose, and to practice their religious beliefs without the fear of persecution or punishment or the threat thereof. Wherever religious persecution is practiced, normalized, condoned, encouraged, and even incentivized, you can expect the stifling of other human rights,\u201d said Villanueva, who also sits as House Deputy Speaker for Good Governance and Moral Uprightness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe bill also aims to promote a free market of religious ideas in the country where no religious belief is suppressed or quelled over the other. By leveling the playing field for the propagation of different religions, Filipinos are afforded the full spectrum of faith and beliefs and the freedom to choose to which they will subscribe. This in turn will counter religious fanaticism which gives rise to many societal problems in the country,\u201d Deputy Speaker Villanueva added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the CIBAC solon also clarified that the bill recognizes limitations to religious freedom. Accordingly, it can be denied, regulated, burdened, or curtailed if an action results to violence, or inflicts or poses to inflict direct or indirect physical or material harm or danger on other people, or infringe on their own freedom of religion or conscience, or is necessary to protect public safety, public order, health, property and good morals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CIBAC solon hopes that the Senate will swiftly act on the measure to usher its eventual enactment into law. #<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Citizens\u2019 Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva celebrates the passage on third reading of House Bill No. 10569 or the \u201cMagna Carta on Religious Freedom Act,\u201d describing the moment as a \u201chigh point\u201d in the country\u2019s history and perfectly timed for the pandemic. \u201cConcretizing the right to freedom of religion through an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press-release"],"yoast_head":"\n