RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty and freedom of conscience are
gifts from God—gifts centered in free choice.
These gifts are important for everyone in the world,
and they are integral to our sharing the good news of
the ultimate gift of Jesus Himself.
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For more than a century Seventh-day Adventists
have been active promoters of religious freedom.
We recognize the need to champion freedom of
conscience and religion as a
Fundamental Human Right.
Official Stand on Religious Freedom
Statement was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative
Committee (ADCOM) and was released by the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General
Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8, 1995.
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Adventists constitute a religious minority, and
have at times been subject to restrictions and
discrimination.
Consequently, they have felt it necessary to stand
up for human rights.
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As loyal citizens, Adventists believe they have
the right to freedom of religion, subject to the
equal rights of others. This implies the freedom
to meet for instruction and worship, to worship
on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), and to
disseminate religious views by public preaching,
or through the media.
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Seventh-day Adventists believe that freedom of
religion is a basic human right. As Christians,
they are persuaded that the dissemination of
religion is not only a right,
but a joyful responsibility based on a
divine mandate to witness.
Official Stand on Religious Freedom
Statement was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative
Committee (ADCOM) and was released by the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General
Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8, 1995.
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RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM
Throughout the history of the
People of God, the Lord has seen
fit to delegate individuals to
represent His message to the
rulers of the time.
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The only partylist that advocates for
Religious Liberty
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Narrate your reasons for
the creation of Aangat
Tayo including why I took
up law against the wishes
of my father.
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Previous Law:
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 223
SEC. 5. Powers of the Commission- The
powers of the Commission are as follows:
d) to administer and conduct the
licensure examinations of the various
Boards according to the rules and
regulations promulgated by it: determine
and fix the places and dates of
examinations; xxx
Previous Law:
PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO. 223
SEC. 5. Powers of the Commission- The
powers of the Commission are as follows:
d) to administer and conduct the
licensure examinations of the various
Boards according to the rules and
regulations promulgated by it: determine
and fix the places and dates of
examinations; xxx
PRC Modernization Act of 2000
Provided, that, when there are two (2) or
more examinations given in a year, at least
one (1) examination shall be held on
weekdays (Monday to Friday): Provided,
further, that if only one (1) examination is
given in a year, this shall be held on
weekdays: x x x
DepED ORDER 105
Accordingly, all concerned are hereby
informed and advised of the following;
DepED personnel and students should not be
required to attend seminars, examinations,
special classes, training and other school
activities on Saturdays.
DON’T FORGET
CEBU CASES
Educational Institutions shall be enjoined to;
Excuse students from attendance and
participation in school related activities if such
schedules conflicts with the exercise of their
religious obligation
3. Provided they submit a Certification or
proof of attendance/participation duly
signed by their Ministers or religious leaders
for periods of absence from classes, work or
school activities.
PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph. D
Chairperson
Commission on Higher Education
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Here, in seeking relief, petitioner
Valmores argues that he is bound
by his religious convictions to
refrain from all secular activities
on Saturdays, a day that is
deemed holy by his church.
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On the other hand, respondents’ refusal
to excuse petitioner Valmores from
Saturday classes and examinations
fundamentally rests on the fact that there
were other Seventh-day Adventists who
had successfully completed their studies
at the MSU College of Medicine.
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On the other hand, respondents’ refusal
to excuse petitioner Valmores from
Saturday classes and examinations
fundamentally rests on the fact that there
were other Seventh-day Adventists who
had successfully completed their studies
at the MSU College of Medicine.
36
On the other hand, respondents’ refusal
to excuse petitioner Valmores from
Saturday classes and examinations
fundamentally rests on the fact that there
were other Seventh-day Adventists who
had successfully completed their studies
at the MSU College of Medicine.
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Without more, respondents' arguments crumble
against constitutional standards. As discussed
above, the Bill of Rights guarantees citizens the
freedom to act on their individual beliefs and
proscribes government intervention unless
necessary to protect its citizens from injury or
when public safety, peace, comfort, or convenience
requires it. Thus, as faculty members of the MSU-
College of Medicine, respondents herein were duty-
bound to protect and preserve petitioner Valmores’
religious freedom.
38
Even worse, respondents suggest that the
“sacrifices” of other students of the common
faith justify their refusal to give petitioner
Valmores exceptional treatment. This is non-
sequitur. Respondents brush aside petitioner
Valmores’religious beliefs as if it were subject
of compromise; one man’s conviction and
another man’s transgressions are theirs alone
to bear. That other fellow believers have
choosen to violate their creed is irrelevant to
the case at hand, for in religious discipline,
adherence is the general rule, and
compromise the exception.
39
What is certain, as gathered from the foregoing, is
that respondents’ concerted refusal to
accommodate petitioner Valmores rests mainly on
extra legal grounds, which cannot, by no stretch of
legal verbiage, defeat the latter’s constitutionally
enshrined-rights. That petitioner Valmores is being
made by responents to choose between honoring
his religious obligations and finishing his education
is a patent infringement of his religious freedoms.
As the final bulwark of fundamental rights, this
Court will not allow such violation to perpetuate any
further.
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Every person is free to tread the far territories of
their conscience, no matter where they may lead –
for the freedom to believe and act on one’s own
convictions and the protection of such freedom
extends to all people, from the theistic to the
godless. The state must, as a matter of duty rather
than consequence, guarantee that such pursuit
remains unfettered.
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As representative of the State, educational
institutions are bound to safeguard the religious
freedom of their students. Thus, to such end, our
schools carry the responsibility to restrict its own
academic liberties, should they collide with
constitutionally preferred rights.
42
Right to Weekly Rest Periods
b) The employer shall determine & schedule the weekly
rest day of his employees subject to collective bargaining
agreement and to such rules and regulations as the
Secretary of Labor may provide. However, the employer
shall respect the preference of employees as to their
weekly rest day when such preference is based on
religious grounds.”
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Lawsuits between brethren are a reproach to
the cause of truth. Christians who go to law
with one another expose the church to the
ridicule of her enemies and cause the
powers of darkness to triumph. They are
wounding Christ afresh and putting Him to
open shame. By ignoring the authority of the
church, they show contempt for God, Who
gave to the church its authority.
The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 304-306.
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“Let none sit in calm expectation of the
evil, comforting themselves with the
belief that this work must go on
because prophecy has foretold it, and
that the Lord will shelter His people. We
are not doing the will of God if we sit in
quietude, doing nothing to preserve
liberty of conscience.”
51 Ellen G. White 5T 713
Ellen G. White 5T 452
“It is our duty to do all in our power to avert
the threatened danger. We should endeavor
to disarm prejudice by placing ourselves in a
proper light before the people. We should
bring before them the real question at issue,
thus interposing the most effectual protest
against measures to restrict liberty of
conscience.”
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All that is needed for the forces of evil
to triumph in this world is for enough
good men to sit back and do nothing.”
Edmund Burke
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