Last week one of the most disgraceful scenes came out of the television. A group of priests, nuns and other religious personalities took to the streets to protest a grievance. The group attempted to reach a place strategic to the militant groups, which is the Mendiola. They were met by the riot police. Since they had no permit, the police asked them to disperse. An argument started; meanwhile a traffic jam was building up.

This became the classic case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object, something has got to give. . The clergy, used to soft living taking to the streets would be out of their element. Tempers flared not only between the rally participants and the police but among the motorists and the passengers as well. The protestors were no match for the police created, trained for and were veterans in crowd control. A push became a shove and a few persons were sprawled on the street; only their dignity seriously hurt.

Things are taking a turn for the worse or for the best depending on which side one is looking. During the Spanish times anybody defying the pronouncements of a religious personality, particularly members of the Catholic Church hierarchy, becomes a virtual outcast. Laying hands on a priest was considered a sacrilege. The Church was the political and religious power of the time. In the American times the priests still retained their old influence. Respect for them remained, their spiritual powers were seldom challenged. They never touched politics.

After the war, times changed. There seems to be a change in moral and spiritual values. Many new and strange religions arose. To protect their fledging organizations, they entered into politics. There is a religious sect, which excommunicates members who refuse to vote for their chosen candidates. The Church, which once considered priesthood as a lifetime vocation not a few priests shed the cloth and ran for political office.

Militant religions like the Muslims and Iglesia ni Kristo may take to the streets if and when their religious beliefs are threatened or insulted. Because of that, they become a moral force. However, if they march because of political or for whatever other reasons, that becomes a different story. A priest, nun or any religious personality marching for a cause other than his religion can no longer be considered a religious crusader and is no longer entitled to the protection of his religion.

A believer, who suffers indignities, harm or death because of his religious beliefs, can be considered a martyr. However, if a religious personality suffers indignities, harm or death because of political reasons, he can be called an agitator at the worst. He cannot invoke the protection of his church, which cause he did not advance. During EDSA I when the religious led the faithful to stand between the two forces, they were doing s Christian duty of preventing bloodshed between brothers. They were the defenders.

It is not clear whether the Mendiola march last week had the blessings of the Church authorities. It is not altogether clear if the pronouncement of one bishop be binding to another bishop. What sets the Catholic religion - we shall call it religion, not sect - from the rest of Christianity is the acceptance of the followers of the infallibility of the head in doctrinal matters. To extend infallibility to correlated subjects or to other personage would erode this acceptance