Introduction

The Rizal Law, or Republic Act No. 1425, requires all educational institutions in the
Philippines to offer courses on José Rizal. An Act being included in the Curricula of All Public
and Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities Courses On the Life, Works, and Writings of
Jose Rizal, Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the
Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes is the main responsibility of the law.
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines was outspoken in its opposition to the proposal,
citing anti-clerical undertones in the films Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo. The Rizal Bill's
main proponent was Senator Claro M. Recto. He attempted to get the bill introduced in
Congress.
The Catholic Church, on the other hand, was adamantly opposed. Recto was accused of
being a communist and anti-Catholic by the church during the 1955 Senate election. The
Church continued to oppose the bill mandating the reading of Rizal's works Noli Me Tángere
and El Filibusterismo after Recto's election, stating it would violate people's freedom of
conscience and religion. The Catholic Church encouraged its followers to write to their
congressman and senators expressing their opposition to the Rizal law, and later arranged
symposiums. Fr. Jesus Cavanna claimed in one of these symposiums that the novels belonged
in the past and that teaching them would misrepresent current reality.