Mayor Digong, now incoming President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is not the kind of president as Corazon Aquino who used to kiss the ring of Jaime Cardinal Sin, not even the ring of Pope Francis perhaps. It is not because the incoming president does not know how to respect religious leaders. Rather, it is because he knows, as a lawyer, that he would be the personification of the State, and the State will never kneel before the Church. That would be a major breach of protocol. We should remember that this is not the time of Padre Damaso and Capitan Tiago anymore. And President Digong cannot be bullied by Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz or Cardinal Soc Villegas.

The kissing of the bishop's ring by a head of state will never happen under a Duterte presidency. And that symbolizes the attitude of the incoming administration towards the Church. Church leaders, particularly the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), cannot tell the president on matters of state, and in the same manner, the president cannot tell the Church on matters of dogma and religious affairs. This, to our mind, is a capsulized synthesis of the principle of the separation of the church and the state. And as long as both sides respect each other so as not to interfere with each other's internal affairs, they can very well live and let live harmoniously. Instead of hitting each other through the media, the mature and professional way is to have a dialogue.

The problem, to our mind, lies on the inevitable fact that there are issues that concern both the Church and the State. For instance, the issues of family planning, birth control, population management, or RH matters. Also, the issues of death penalty, divorce, euthanasia or mercy killing, same-sex marriage, and other secular issues with strong religious and moral implications. The Church cannot fold its hands if and when the new president shall push, among his legislative agenda, legalization of birth control, death penalty, divorce mercy killing. Herein lies the possible areas of conflict and even collision of forces. But the State should also be respected in the exercise of the police power.

The role of the Church, if we may be allowed some unsolicited advice, is to present its position to the Filipino people and explain its reasons. The Church can publish articles outlining its official position and even actively participate in public hearings and other fora, but it cannot, or should not use the powers of excommunication as a scheme to twist the arms of the government decision-makers. The Church should leave legislation to the State just as the State should leave the administration of the sacraments to the Church. If they have any difference, they should talk. In fact, they should create a joint church-state liaison group in order to keep the communication lines always open.

The revival of the death penalty is one other contentious issue that will most probably lead to some nasty and heated arguments. Duterte appears to be bull-headed in making sure that criminals should fear the government, with stringent laws and iron-fisted administration of justice. Senator-elect Leila de Lima has made her position clear that she would oppose any government measure that would violate human rights. And so, De Lima will be the Church's advocate, while even Bible-reading Manny Pacquiao and Joel Villanueva will take the side of president. I expect some turbulence in the dynamics between the Church and State. Let us all fasten our seat belts. And pray real hard.

josephusbjimenez@gmail.com