‘A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor.’ (Proverbs 28. 16)’
God has given every person the gift of reason and understanding to make sound judgment and decisions. It is a gift bequeathed to humankind to advance their lot and pursue the progress of human society. Monsignor Gregorio L. Aglipay has attested to this when he said that ‘we are born with the right to think freely and to express our thoughts according to the light of reason which God has endowed us… as long as we do not usurp the freedom of others and violate their rights’. Reason, however, is in no way to be selfishly used by anybody to appropriate undue profit for himself or herself.
