The Philippine Online Chronicles

Catholic bishops and Catholic groups are considering filing charges against the people behind the “sacrilegious and blasphemous” art exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) if they fail to stop the exhibit in 48 hours.

According to Pro-life Philippines president Eric Manalang, they will be filing a case by Thursday afternoon against CCP officials and artists who claimed to be from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) if they do not pull the plug on the exhibit “Kulo” and “if they do not also make amends because stopping is not enough. The damage has been done.”

The artwork featured in the exhibit, which is described as “A Gathering of Artists of the UST,” include a crucifix with a wooden penis and a Christ the King figurine with rabbit ears, among others. The exhibit was slated to run from June 17 to August 21.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines legal counsel Jo Imbong said that the exhibit violates Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code on Immoral Exhibitions as well as the legal mandate of CCP.

“May kaparusahan ‘yung mga gumagawa ng public exhibit na ang laman ng exhibit ay mga bagay na insulto sa relihiyon… May liability kasi you are offending the religious belief of a country [with] 85 percent Christians," Imbong explained.

Imbong also emphasized that the CCP should not have allowed the said exhibit because as a public agency, "It was created by law and funded by our taxes for the purpose of awakening the consciousness of our people to our cultural heritage."

“Is it our cultural heritage to mock and insult religious personages and icons? Is it aesthetic to vandalize a venerated representation of objects of worship and reverence? Is vulgarity and blasphemy a Filipino value? What Filipino pride can emerge for such works? Is this our national identity? And CCP promotes it?” she asked.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz described “Kulo” as “disrespectful of religious beliefs,” also urging the public to boycott the exhibit.

“They should be sensitive and respectful of those who might see it. They should respect the religion of others,” Iñiguez claimed.

"I’m ashamed of my alma mater. I’m a UST product, a Dominican product from head to foot. If these are the kind of artists (of) the so-called pontifical and royal university, then I renounce my alma mater. Bakit hindi nila napigilan ito? Bakit hanggang ngayon walang sinasabi? Parang bulag, pipi at bingi ang UST," Cruz said.

The artists and organizers have yet to issue a statement as of press time.