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Philippines Ecumenical Developments
The coming of Protestant missionaries was not welcomed by
Catholic clergy, and, for several years, representatives of
Catholic and Protestant churches engaged in mutual recrimination.
Catholics were warned against involvement in Protestant
activities, even in groups like the Young Men's Christian
Association and the Young Women's Christian Association. Since
the 1970s, hostility between Catholics and many Protestant
churches had lessened; churches emphasized the virtues rather
than the alleged defects of other churches; and priests and
pastors occasionally cooperated. Although the ecumenical emphasis
did not eliminate competition and gained far more hold among
older Protestant churches than among groups that had entered the
Philippines more recently, the trend had significantly moderated
religious tensions.
Some tentative efforts toward ecumenical understanding also
were made in relations between Christians and Muslims,
delineating common ground in the mutual acceptance of much of the
Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible. Occasional
conferences were held in an attempt to expand understanding.
Their success by the early 1990s was limited but might indicate
that, even in this tense area, improvement was possible.
Data as of June 1991
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