CLERICALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

By Fr. Jeffrey Dawa Habado

Copied from his Facebook Post. See FB post for comments. 

CLERICALISM: How it has become a hindrance to the realization of PCP II's vision for the Philippine Church

Clericalism is a religious mindset and institutional culture where ordained ministers (bishops, priests, and deacons) are placed on an exalted pedestal, exaggerating their authority at the expense of the laity. 

It fosters a sense of entitlement, elitism, and superiority among the clergy, while reducing laypersons to a passive, submissive role where they merely listen and obey rather than actively participate in the Church's mission.

The identification of clericalism as a primary hindrance to the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) vision is a collective consensus strongly put forward by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and various local theologians.

What is Clericalism?

According to definitions highlighted by Pope Francis and Church leadership:

The Core Definition: It is an elitist and exclusivist vision that treats Holy Orders as a form of power to be exercised rather than a generous service to be given.

The "Two-Way Street": It is not just driven by arrogant priests; it is reinforced by laypeople who are overly deferential, treating clergy as the "sole actors" of the Church.

The Impact: It devalues the grace of baptism. It isolates the hierarchy from the ordinary "flock," causing the poor and marginalized to suffer from a lack of true pastoral accompaniment.

Clericalism as a Hindrance to PCP II

In 1991, PCP II set a revolutionary vision for the Philippine Catholic Church: to become a "Church of the Poor" and a "Community of Disciples". 

This vision relied heavily on empowering the laity and proliferating Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs).

However, over successive evaluations—such as the National Pastoral Consultation on Church Renewal (NPCCR)—and modern reports linked to the Synod on Synodality, the Philippine Bishops collectively confessed that clericalism is the root cause preventing this vision from fully flourishing.

The CBCP noted that because many priests still refuse to share decision-making power and maintain a culture of entitlement:

The Laity remains marginalized in actual church governance.

The "Church of the Poor" becomes compromised, as wealthy donors are often favored over the impoverished populace.

True dialogue is blocked, stalling the consultative, servant-leadership model that PCP II originally mandated.

Notable Philippine Bishops Who Addressed Clericalism

Jose Cardinal Advincula (Archbishop of Manila)

Cardinal Advincula explicitly named clericalism as a threat to the Church's vision. He warned that "there is the shadow of clericalism that distorts ministry into privilege and weakens the baptismal dignity and co-responsibility of the faithful." He noted that this mindset serves as an obstacle to the Church's mission because it blocks the voices of the laity, the young, and those on the margins from being heard in decision-making.

Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David (Bishop of Kalookan)

As a chief advocate for a participatory Church, Cardinal David has frequently criticized how clericalism stunts the laity. He warned that in a clericalistic Church, laypeople will never see themselves as active agents of evangelization. He stressed that treating priests and bishops like royalty creates an unhealthy divide, leaving the laity dependent rather than empowered to share in the Church’s mission.

Archbishop Julius Tonel (Archbishop of Zamboanga)

During a gathering of Mindanao clergy, Archbishop Tonel strongly warned priests that clericalism and entitlement undermine the Church's mission. He directly called clericalism and complacency "killers of lay participation," pointing out that a culture of privilege leads to a failure to listen to the community.