Burghardt on Loving the Church

I LOVE THIS CHURCH

In the course of a half century,
I have seen more Christian corruption
than you have read of.

I have tasted it.
I have been reasonably corrupt myself.

And yet, I love this Church,
this living, pulsing, sinning people of God
with a crucifying passion.

Why?

For all the Christian hate,
I experience here a community of love.

For all the institutional idiocy,
I find here a tradition of reason.

For all the individual repressions,
I breathe here an air of freedom.

For all the fear of sex,
I discover here the redemption of my body.

In an age so inhuman,
I touch here tears of compassion.

In a world so grim and humorless,
I share here rich joy and earthy laughter.

In the midst of death,
I hear an incomparable stress on life.

For all the apparent absence of God,
I sense here the real presence of Christ.

-- Walter Burghardt, S.J.

Course Syllabus for Theo 275

Course Number: Theo 275

Title: Philippine Church History

Semester: 1st

School Year: 2006-2007

Instructor: Antonio F. B. de Castro, S. J.


A. Course Description: Theo 275 deals with the study of the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, with particular attention paid to the following issues: the religious basis of Spanish colonization and the Patronato real; the evangelization of the Philippines; jurisdictional conflicts of the 17th century and their effect on the development of a Filipino clergy; the anti-friar movement; the Church and the creation of a national consciousness; the Church and the Revolution; the Church and the American regime; the Filipinization of the Church.


B. Course Objectives: the course is designed to enable the student to attain an impartial and honest view of the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines from the 16th to early 20th centuries through a judicious and critical use of primary source materials, a more than ordinary acquaintance with the secondary literature, an informed discussion of some of the nodal points of controversy in this history, and an adequate consideration of historical methodology as this is applied to the history of a religious institution in the Philippines.


C. Course Outline:

I. Introduction: Methodological Questions and Presuppositions; Current State of the Literature; Importance of the Study of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines for a more adequate understanding of the overall history of the Philippines

II. The Spanish Church in the Indies: The Age of Discovery, the Papal Bulls, Justice to the Indians, the Patronato real de la Iglesia de las Indias

III. Christianity Comes to the Philippines: Pre-Hispanic Filipino religion, the beginnings of Evangelization, the Organization of the Church, 1579-1595

IV. The Struggle for Justice: Augustinians versus Spanish Conquistadores, the Synod of Manila, Bishop Salazar as Champion of Filipino rights, the Acceptance of Spanish Sovereignty

V. Evangelization: Methods and Motives, Obstacles to Christianization, Adaptation to Filipino Culture, Building the Christian Community, Success of the First 50 Years

VI. Obstacles and Setbacks to Evangelization: Resistance in the South, the Dutch Wars (1600-1648), Disruption of the Christian Communities in Luzon, the “Moro Wars” in the Visayas

VII. Jurisdictional Struggles: Church versus State, Bishops versus Religious Orders, Episcopal Visitation Enforced

VIII. The Established Church, 1620-1760: Education, Works of Charity, the Church in Manila, the Church in the Provinces, Missionaries and Vernacular Literature, the Church and Material Development, Missionary Outreach

IX. Development of a Filipino Clergy: Initial Obstacles, Hesitant Beginnings (1720-1767), Twisted Growth (1767-1820), Political Suspicion (1820-1872), the Nationalist Clergy (1849-1872)

X. The Church and Filipino Nationalism: Nineteenth Century Religious Conditions, the Anti-Friar Character of the Nationalist Movement, Church Policy of the Revolutionary Government, the Filipino Clergy and the Revolution

XI. The Church in Disarray: a Church without Leadership (1899-1903), the Coming of Protestantism, the Aglipayan Schism

XII. Adjusting to a New Order: Reorganization of the Church (1903-1910), the Church on the Defensive (1910-1925), Adaptation and Resurgence (1925-1941), War and Destruction (1941-1945)

XIII. General Conclusions and Areas for Further Study and Research


D. Required Readings:

John N. Schumacher, Readings in Philippine Church History, Quezon City, 1987.

Horacio de la Costa, Readings in Philippine History, Makati, 1992.


E. Suggested Readings: I no longer give out a bibliography. But you can check out the reserve shelf for Theo 275 in the LST Library...


F. Course Requirements:

1) one final oral examination

2) one long paper on a topic to be approved by the professor

3) class recitation


G. Grading System:

1) S.T.B.: number grades (1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4, inc.);

2) M.A.: letter grades (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, inc.);

3) long paper: 40 pts; final oral exam: 40 pts; class recitation: 20 pts.


H. Classroom Policies:

1) Dress code must be observed in class.

2) Class attendance is the student’s responsibility.

3) Rule on plagiarism will be strictly enforced.


I. Consultation Hours: every afternoon, M-W-F and by appointment for other days.


Prepared by:
Antonio F. B. de Castro, S. J.
Associate Professor, Church History
Loyola School of Theology
Ateneo de Manila University
13 June 2006
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