GREGORIO AGLIPAY VS JUAN RUIZ

G. R. No. 45459, March 13, 1937

TOPIC: SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Facts: The government had authorized a special stamp issue on the occasion of the observance in
Manila of the 33rd International Eucharistic Congress under the sponsorship of the Catholic Church. The
petitioner, as head of the Philippine Independent Church, assailed the measure, contending that it
violated the Constitution because it benefited a particular religion; thus he sought to prohibit the
issuance and selling of the stamps commemorative of the event.

Issue: Whether or not the issuing and selling of commemorative stamps violates the principle of
separation of Church and State.

Ruling: No. the issuing and selling of commemorative stamps by the respondent does not contemplate
any favor upon a particular sect or church, but the purpose was only ‘to advertise the Philippines and
attract more tourist’ and the government just took advantage of an event considered of international
importance, thus, not violating the Constitution on its provision on the separation of the Church and
State. Moreover, the Court stressed that ‘Religious freedom, as a constitutional mandate is not
inhibition of profound reverence for religion and is not denial of its influence in human affairs’.