Carlos Celdran remains defiant; supporters set up Facebook pages

After spending Thursday night at a police precinct for causing a scene inside the Manila Cathedral, a still-defiant tour guide, Carlos Celdran, vowed to continue supporting a proposed population policy promoting artificial contraception. Celdran also said he does not fear excommunication from the Catholic Church for his beliefs, saying he can join other religious groups. "Obvious naman na magagalit sila (pero ang) hindi ko alam, ang simbahan magpapakulong ng tao," he said in an interview on dzBB radio Friday. (I expected the Church to get mad but I did not expect the Church would have people jailed.) Celdran's supporters set up two pages on the social networking site Facebook, one clamoring for his release and another seeking his continued detention.

Celdran was arrested Thursday after making a scene at the Manila Cathedral, where he dressed as national hero Jose Rizal and shouted at the bishops during a Mass to stop meddling in government affairs, particularly on population management. He also held up a placard with the sign "Damaso," referring to a priest who fathered a child in Rizal's novel "Noli Me Tangere." An account on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site said the bishops present during the Mass included Papal Nuncio Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. Celdran said he planned to post bail Friday afternoon. "Okay lang, di Manila Hotel ... walang free breakfast dito pero may libreng kape (It's okay. It's not exactly the Manila Hotel here. There's no free breakfast though the coffee is free)," he said of his overnight stay behind bars. When asked if he had any regrets for his action Thursday, Celdran said, "Wala (none)." Excommunication Celdran also said he is not scared of the threat of excommunication over his beliefs. On Thursday, CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar had said on Radio Veritas that excommunicating President Benigno Aquino III for his stance on artificial contraceptives was a possibility but not a "proximate possibility." However, Odchimar later issued a disclaimer where he insisted there was no threat of excommunication on Aquino, and that the Church will put priority to fostering dialogues on the matter. Celdran, however, said he is ready to switch religions should the Church decide to excommunicate him. "Baka mag-Iglesia ni Cristo na lang ako, proudly Philippine made (I may join the Iglesia ni Cristo, which originated in the Philippines)," he said. Facebook pages Meanwhile, Celdran's supporters set up two pages on social networking site Facebook Friday, one calling for his release and another seeking to keep him in jail. The "Free Carlos Celdran" page lauded Celdran's boldness for giving the "silent majority" the "courage to speak up against their qualms about the Church." "Carlos, our friend, we are proud of you and support you all the way. NOBODY has guts like you do. You are shaping history," said the creators of the page. On the other hand, the "Keep Carlos Celdran In Jail" page said Celdran should stay in jail mainly because he "can do more politicizing jailed." It also said that the longer Celdran stays in jail, "the Bigger of an Ass It Makes the Church look." "Dear Carlos Celdran, You rock. This is why I think you should stay in jail. We need more corky activists like you ... Xoxo, Achinette Villamor," read the message on the page. –VVP, GMANews.TV