After the successful August 26 Luneta Park Protests dubbed as a "Million People March" (which unfortunately didn't reach that mark), the organizers are now planning to continue the said demonstrations of public indignation on Wednesday, 11th of September, 2013 at EDSA Highway, Metro Manila. The organizers now want a prayer vigil against the ills of corruption lingering in the Philippine government and society. Sure, this sounds like a good plan. However, I was somehow demoralized after learning that the said rally will be a prayer vigil in front of Our Lady of EDSA. This seems too Catholic-oriented, isn't it? Paano na ang mga Muslim? ang mga Protestante? ang mga Iglesia ni Cristo? ang mga ateista't agnostiko? (What about the Muslims? the Protestants? the INC? the atheists and agnostics?)
I believe it's also due to time to differentiate between secular gatherings and liturgical gatherings. It's also time to stop attaching Catholicism to government issues. We are in a secular society. The Philippines is not a Catholic country (Catholic-majority maybe, but not essentially a Catholic country). They might attack me by saying that they also had a mass during the Aug 26 Protests. I have no problem on the fact that some groups did a mass during the August 26 Luneta Park Protests since it was limited to those who want to participate. I am also not against the prayer vigil per se, but I feel if they really want to "continue" the Million People March, they should not have turned the event into an exclusive prayer vigil. Just my five cents though (opinion only)....
I believe it's also due to time to differentiate between secular gatherings and liturgical gatherings. It's also time to stop attaching Catholicism to government issues. We are in a secular society. The Philippines is not a Catholic country (Catholic-majority maybe, but not essentially a Catholic country). They might attack me by saying that they also had a mass during the Aug 26 Protests. I have no problem on the fact that some groups did a mass during the August 26 Luneta Park Protests since it was limited to those who want to participate. I am also not against the prayer vigil per se, but I feel if they really want to "continue" the Million People March, they should not have turned the event into an exclusive prayer vigil. Just my five cents though (opinion only)....
