The sacraments, the prayers, even the bread and wine have no holiness or power unless properly franchised by the Catholic™ Church.-Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, President of CBCP Commission on Franchising and Life (COFAL)
The above quote is from an article denoting the recent attempt of the Catholic Church to trademark the term “Catholic™”. Apparently one has to be careful now from using the term haphazardly as he will become liable for intellectual property infringement if he uses the term without care, or without the proper notification to CBCP. The above quote strikes me as a severe form of hypocrisy and it well suggests arrogance. It puts Catholicism above all other religions. To say that other forms of prayers and religious rites not preceded by the Catholic™ Church not "holy" is morally wrong. And to use the word “franchise” in the same context as with the words “sacraments” and “holiness” suggests lack of tact and insight from the one who said it.
For those like me who chose to neglect their economics lessons back then, trademarking implies a sort of intellectual property, a creation of mind. When you invent, form or create something no one has ever done before, you have the option to trademark it. The symbol of a registered trademark (™) gives several exclusive rights upon the registered owner. In short you own, for now and perpetuity, whatever it is your trademarking; and whoever uses your "property" without your permission can be penalized.
So what does trademarking of the term “Catholic™” generally imply?
First of all, one should only apply for intellectual rights for products or services he or she is to render or sell - never should this concept be applied to a principle, especially one concerning God or where faith and religion is concerned. Faith is not for sale, it is not a product to be protected. While it is understandable that one can choose to protect his beliefs, it should never be in a way where he objectifies his faith to the point where exclusive right is his main concern. It defeats the purpose of having faith. Faith as a concept is founded on trusting in the goodness or trustworthiness of a spiritual entity. Why is there a need to guard and trademark the values of Catholicism? If the justification is so that others will not be able to "pirate" their teachings, doesn't the CBCP trust in the Catholic™ doctrines enough to hold on their own? Don't they trust their own flock enough to decipher what is right and what is not?
Second, it gives people the impression that the Catholic Church is a business, because only business organizations and legal corporate entities apply for intellectual property rights. The Church, first and foremost is a place of worship, not an institution where faith is treated as an economic commodity. This act also entails that God's favor and grace can be somewhat achieved through economic means. Ultimately, it also implies that the CBCP as the sole proprietor of Christ's teaching. So who died and made them judges of everything moral? By now, we should know that dogmatism and religious fundamentalism often lead to bigotry. And the more bigots we become, the more animosity we create.
Lastly, this also isolates the Catholics™ more from other religions, and not in a good way. It creates a rift and a clear demarcation between the so-called Catholics™ and others who also believe in the concept of Christ. Worse, it isolates the Church from its other members who choose to question some of their teachings in light of a deeper spiritual enlightening. It infers that Catholicism can be equated as a product or service available only through a select group of individuals—those who follow without question. So if a person frequently goes to Church and says his confessions, but is ultimately a divorcee because of an abusive marriage, he is no longer Catholic™? Because as what the new trademark implies, anyone who disobeys the doctrines of the Catholic™ Church is no longer recognized. And if a mother decides on well-informed choices on how to plan her family through the RH bill, she can no longer associate herself with Christ because that is what this exclusive right imply, that anyone who goes against Catholic™ teachings are no longer associated. So in this light, if I choose to wear a condom rather than have unprotected sex, I'm no longer considered Catholic™. Is this really what the Church wants for its members?
I am not in any way an atheist as I believe in the existence of a God. The human mind can only go as far as to man's perception of everything around him and where human understanding stops, one often turns to faith and to the belief in a higher being to give him a sense of explanation and direction. I am also not in any way, blasphemously attacking the Catholic™ Church. I am merely examining my faith and the institution that is supposed to uphold it. But when the so-called servants of God start acting like business men and politicians, who will the people turn to for their needed spiritual guidance?
I just hope that tomorrow or in the next few days to come, I won’t have to read about Jesus™ or learn about Christ™. What’s next? Are we obliged to recite prayers™?
Seriously, this form of Catholic™ oligarchy has got to stop.
More information can be found here:
http://filipinofreethinkers.org/2011/06/13/cbcp-trademarks-the-term-catholic/
Credits:
Original photo retrieved FROM http://teenagepregnancyinflag.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/catholic-single-network-faith.jpg
enhanced through www.picknik.com
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