Balanggao, Aerich Khan O.

SSC-R Seminar 1

FACTS:
Priests from the Roman Catholic Church have been in charge of Pueblo Lagonoy in the province of Ambos
Camarines since 1839. In 1869, the church and convent were set on fire. The necessary reconstruction was
carried out under the guidance of the cabeza de barangay, and the supplies were purchased using church
funds and some contributions from people from the pueblo. Correspondingly, it was always run by the
Roman Catholic Church when it was finished.
After being nominated by the parish priest who brought the lawsuit, Vicente Ramirez assumed charge of
the church on July 5, 1901, and he managed it under the guidance of his superior until November 14, 1902.
After his successor had been chosen, he demanded that this defendant hand to him the church, convent,
cemetery, as well as the holy objects, books, jewels, money, and other property of the church, but the
defendant refused. Such rejection is declared in writing, stating the church's determination to break away
from the rules and control of Pope in Rome and join the Filipino National Church.
The plaintiff claimed in his complaint that the Roman Catholic Church was the rightful owner of the church
structure, the convent, the cemetery, the books, the money, and other property that belonged to it, and he
requested that custody of those properties be returned to the church.
The defendant responded by saying that the municipality of Lagonoy and its residents are the rightful
proprietors of the aforementioned land.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the said property is owned by the Catholic Church having the capacity as juridical person?
RULING:
The Catholic Church is the owner of the property and has the authority to use it in the Philippines as a result
of the court's ruling in the plaintiff's favour. It was necessary to entrust that entity with the churches' property,
care, and upkeep of religious worship.
In other words, the Philippine Islands' citizens became the property's legal owners while the grantor retained
the legal title in trust to hold the assets for the designated uses and in further trust to entrust the Roman
Catholic Church with the care and control of the assets.
Under Law 12, title 28, partida 3, no sacred, religious, or holy thing, devoted to the service of God, can be
the subject of ownership by any man, nor it can be considered as included in his property holdings. Although
the priests may have such things in their possession, yet they are not the owners thereof. They hold them
thus as guardians or servants, or because they have the care of the same and serve God in or with them.
Hence they were allowed to take from the Revenues of the church and lands what was reasonably necessary
for their support; the balance, belonging to God, was to be devoted to pious purposes, such as the feeding
and clothing of the poor, the support of orphans, the marrying of poor virgins to prevent their becoming
evil women because of their poverty; and for the redemption of captivers and the repairing of the churches,
and the buying of chalices, clothing, books, and other things which they might be in seed of, and other
similar charitable purposes.