Philippines. Growth and decline: Essays on Philippine church history. By John N. Schumacher S.J. Manila: Ateneo de Manila Press, 2009. Pp. 291. Abbreviations, References, Index.

Abstract

Growth and decline: Essays on Philippine church history By JOHN N. SCHUMACHER, S.J. Manila: Ateneo de Manila Press, 2009. Pp. 291. Abbreviations, References, Index. doi: 10.1017/S0022463411000221 The book traces the history of the Catholic Church in the Philippines from the sixteenth up to the twentieth century as it weaves through the conflicts and challenges besetting the clergy--internally and externally--with the religious-cultural evolution of the Filipino laity as a backdrop. The meticulous historian and Jesuit, John Schumacher, succeeds in clarifying in his two-decade work how the Catholic Church, founded on the sweat and blood of Spanish friars, has been at loggerheads with the conquistadores whether to colonise the Philippines with the sword or the cross that actually resulted in both. His book has brought to light the growing nationalism of the Filipino priests with direct proportion to the growing influence of Catholicism to the ordinary churchgoers and eventually to those who can hear the tolling of the bells from afar and outside of the reduccion. Schumacher's passion and commitment in digging and unearthing historical bases are beyond question. He takes the readers by the hand as he expounds how the Catholic orders waded through various governor-generals' political stance, with incidents of violence and suspected murder, to make Catholicism a 'liberating force rather than an instrument for subjection to Spanish rule' (p. viii). He gives a human face to his thesis. One proof of this sublime evangelisation was the use of the native languages in celebrating church masses, quite differently from South America where a royal decree ordered the use of the Spanish language in 1555. He explains, however, that the Spanish language remained to be the exclusive use of the religious orders; use of the Tagalog language was forbidden in convents, religious schools and beatas. The historian priest also exposes the exploitation and thievery of Spanish officials and encomenderos as they implemented forced labour and exacted tributes beyond the requirement of Spain's law. Representing the Filipino elite, the principalia had not only been blind to the injustices committed against the Indios but even aided the Spanish officials in maintaining the status quo. Trying to rise from these visible flaws, however, the Catholic hierarchy obtained a decree from King Philip II to return the unjust tributes to the pagans; punish Governor Francisco de Sande for waging an 'unjust war' (p. 8) against a Muslim sultan; and also found Governor Diego Ronquillo guilty for not punishing the erring alcaldes and government officials. …