The secularization movement in the

Philippines
• A movement in the Philippines under Spanish
colonial administration from the 18th to late
19th century for greater rights for native Filipino
Roman Catholic clergymen.
• The movement had significant implications to
Filipino nationalism and the Philippine
Revolution.
The Situation
• During the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines, the Roman Catholic
Church wielded strong cultural, political and economic influence in
the Philippine archipelago.
• A feudal society, institutions largely favored land-owning Spanish
peninsulares (originating from the Iberian peninsula) and the Roman
Catholic friars.
• Clergymen who are affiliated with a religious order such as the Jesuits
and the Dominicans had significant influence over the affairs of the
islands
Seculars and Regulars
• Seculars (seculares) – Clergymen who are not affiliated with a
religious order.
• They are mostly native Filipinos.
• At the time they are referred to as indios with the term Filipino exclusive to
Spaniards born in the Philippines.
• Parish works is usually reserved to seculars but the Spanish colonial
government in the Philippines had to deal with the issue that there are
virtually no Spaniard seculars due to the low immigration rate of Spaniards to
the Philippines due to its distance from Spain and its weak economy.
• Regulars (regulares) – Clergymen who are part of an established
order. They are mostly Spaniards.
The Secularization and the Parishes
• The secularization movement encouraged the assignment of native
Filipino priests to head parishes.
• The movement was met with opposition from the Spanish friars who are
regulars due to its negative effects to their political authority and
influence in the Philippine islands.
• Some religious regulars justified their opposition from given native
priests more responsibility with racist reasoning, that natives are not
suitable for priesthood to begin with.
• They were also concerned that the secularization process might lead to
secession of the island colony from Spain. Native priests previously
played a role in the uprisings in Mexico and Peru.
The Monarchy and the Church
• Charles III of Spain in 1759 instituted a policy which
aimed to subject the Catholic Church to the Spanish
monarchy.
• The religious orders resisted such moves in contrast to
the seculars who report to bishops appointed by the
monarchy.
Secularization and the Jesuits
• The secularization movement began in the 1770s. Following the expulsion of the
Jesuits in 1768 from all of the Spanish empire's colonies including the Philippines,
the Spanish monarchy issued a royal decree in 1774 to fill vacant clergy posts in
parishes with seculars.
• The decree was implemented in the Philippines by Governor General Simon de
Anda.
• In the Philippines, this meant that native priests would fill the vacancies which was
met with opposition from the Spaniard regular clergymen on various grounds.
• Most native secular priests also proved to be ill-equipped to govern parishes
(According to the regular priests). The takeover of the seculars of parishes in
Pampanga from the Augustinians overseen by Governor General Anda himself
turned violent.
The Revocation of the Secularization Policy
• In 1787 the colonial government in the Philippines petitioned Charles
III to put an end to secularization policy.
• The Spanish government revoked its secularization policy in 1826,
despite the Holy See's position of discouragement against the
permanence of a religious order in governing a parish.
• However the Vatican or the Pope had no absolute power over Catholic
clergy in the Philippines.
• The pope's decision affecting the Philippines had to be approved by the
Spanish government and religious orders in the Philippines still wielded
influence over the colonial government and could override the Vatican.
Fr. Pelaez and the Secularization Movement
• The secularization movement continued to grow heading to the early 19th
century.
• One of the native priests which led the movement in that period was Pedro Pelaez
from Laguna.
• Pelaez, also an academician(well educated), raised funds to send a representative
to Madrid, wrote pamphlets, and petitioned the Queen of Spain for support to
advance his advocacy.
• Momentum of the movement was disrupted due 1863 Manila earthquake which
caused the death of Pelaez.
• Jose Burgos, a protege of Pelaez became involved in the movement. Both men
advocated for the rights of the secular clergy who were not being allowed to
govern a parish due to their race.
The Return of the Jesuits
• The Jesuits returned to the Philippines in 1859
displacing many secular priests.
• They gained back control of parishes in Mindanao
from the Recollects.
• Secular priests in Cavite lost jurisdiction over their
parishes in favor of the Recollects and Dominicans.
The GOMBURZA
• The movement culminated in 1872 with the execution of the
Gomburza, which consisted of three native priests namely Burgos
himself, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora.
• Being prominent figures of the secularization movement, they were
accused of being involved in the 1872 Cavite mutiny.
• The Gomburza was later regarded as martyrs by liberal reformists and
Filipino nationalists.
• The trio were referenced in José Rizal's El filibusterismo and their
death was often cited by Katipunan figures as being an inspiration for
the Philippine Revolution.
The Revolution
• At the peak of the Philippine Revolution, more than
800 of the 967 parishes and missions were under the
control of religious orders.
• More than 400 of the regulars were captured and
many others were killed during the revolution.
The Secularization and the American Adm.
• The start of the American colonial administration marked the very first time
that the Vatican had no direct intervention in the affairs of Roman Catholic
Church in the Philippines.
• American bishops and the Holy See's apostolic delegates supported the
native Filipino clergy.
• Jorge Barlin in 1905 became the first native Filipino to be elevated as bishop.
He was appointed as bishop of Caceres.
• Pope Leo XIII encouraged Filipino priests to be given a greater role through
the apostolic constitution Quae mari Sinico in 1902.
• The secularization movement also led to the establishment of the Iglesia
Filipina Independiente by Isabelo de los Reyes and Fr. Gregorio Aglipay.