No one is above the law, not even the church. Push for Anti-Cult Law: Stop the use of Religion to violate Human Rights!

 

Being a predominantly Christian country, the Philippines' religion has a crucial role in shaping the history of our nation. Filipinos rely on their religion for solace, direction, and moral support in their daily life.

Some of the religions practiced in the country are: Indigenous Philippine folk religions, such as Folk Catholicism and Folk Hinduism, among others, have perpetuated many of the customs and belief systems from pre-colonial Filipino religions. Filipino society continues to be based primarily on Catholicism. A demonstration of the continuing influence of religious customs and beliefs

What is a Cult?

Cults often start with appealing ideologies that promise insight, community, and a sense of purpose but may evolve into entities that prioritize the organization's needs over individual well-being. These groups frequently employ psychological manipulation to maintain control over members, including social isolation, financial exploitation, and the instillation of fear or guilt. 

The practices and customs inside a cult may often lead to religious violence that can vary from minor to severe. This religious violence inflicts physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual violence upon people in the context of a religious space and is justified using a religious language.

Through this violence, religious beliefs are disguised as the "will of God" and are used to exploit and manipulate the members of the church to follow certain practices that are against their judgements. This later became an action of force and coercion against these very people.

Following this, Philippine churches have several prominent pastors and leaders who use religion to violate human rights against women and children. Infamous self-proclaimed "appointed son of God" and "new Jesus" under the name of pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Jey Rence Quilario (known as "Senior Agila") respectively. Several accounts of human and sex trafficking, women and child abuse, child marriage, rape, fraud, and coercion among others are only some of the charges faced againts thlaw These notable individuals have caused many violations not only against human rights, but also to the law.

Apollo Quiboloy or the “Appointed Son of God”. Quiboloy is the 73 year-old founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) which is a Philippine-based Nontrinitarian Restorationist church. Ironically, he was under the most wanted list in US for different cases such as human trafficking, fraud, and more.

Quiboloy's multi-layered case began in 2021 when he was convicted of sex trafficking and is said to have sexually abused female members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) church aged 12 to 25 in exchange for "the privilege" and avoidance of "eternal damnation”.

Meanwhile, "Senior Agila", also known as Jey Rence Quilario, the president of the Socorro Bayanihan Services group, has criminal charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). These charges are in response to the allegations of sexual abuse and involvement in a cult-like group. Additionally, Senior Agila is facing charges including qualified trafficking in persons, facilitation of child marriage, solemnization of child marriage, and child abuse. 

Accounting for all of these concerning and inhumane violations, it is only by right that the legislative should make an Anti-Cult Law! The Philippines is in desperate need for law vs religious violence!

Some would argue that there is Article II, Section 6, that states the separation of the church and the state shall be inviolable. This section states that the government and religions should not interfere with others' perspectives. They do not control one another. Once they are bound to violate the law, the government or the church ability will be removed.

Cultism, insurgency, and vigilantism states that before the church usually supported that state, however now that they have the law, church and government should not mix with each other. 

BUT WE STAND BY THE TRUTH!

Implementing anti-cult measures despite the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which upholds freedom of religion and association, is crucial to safeguarding individuals from exploitation, coercion, and harm within cultic groups. While the constitution protects these freedoms, it also recognizes the state's responsibility to promote the general welfare and protect citizens from abuse.

Cults often employ manipulative tactics to control their members, leading to psychological, financial, and sometimes physical harm. Anti-cult measures can strike a balance between preserving individual liberties and preventing abuses by regulating deceptive recruitment practices, ensuring informed consent, and providing support for those seeking to leave cults. By doing so, these measures uphold constitutional rights while safeguarding vulnerable individuals and maintaining societal stability.

 

JOIN US IN THIS PETITION TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO PASS THE ANTI-CULT BILL NOW!