RETRACTION CONTROVERSY

                                               

If someone asks me whether Dr. Jose Rizal had retracted or not, then I would say No. I do not believe that he wrote and signed a retraction document that would mean his acceptance to Catholic faith. In my opinion, it’s not a controversy but a mystery regarding that Rizal, a great philosopher, a nation’s hero and a pen-warrior did retract his advocacies. However, Rizal did respect the activities of Catholicism. He continued to hear mass while he was exiled in Dapitan.

As I recall, Rizal did not like the way the Spanish friars treating the Filipinos with the unlawful abuse of legislative, executive and judicial powers.  I think it’s not Rizal’s will to retract instead the friars like him to do so. I do not think that he could give up his principles and advocacies in a sudden manner.I just wonder how the Philippines would be if Rizal was proven to retract. The Filipinos at those times would lose their motivation and be slaves of our own nation not knowing we could win back independence within a certain time.

Rizal was not afraid to die for the sake of the Filipinos. He could not be force to change his idealistic thoughts towards independence. Also, he couldn’t be stop to write articles and poems by the means of death threats and court trials. He was such a mighty warrior ready to defend with the use of his pen and infinite nationalistic mind. That’s why there’s no way to believe that our national hero could swallow his pride for us Filipinos and retract like giving up and surrendering from a long-time war for the search of hope and freedom.

However, nobody was certain that he really signed it. As a matter of fact, there appeared several versions of the said document and that caused the uncertainty whether Rizal really had retracted. God only knows what the truth and I know Rizal believed in God not in the Spanish friars who tend to kill the soul and mind of the Filipinos.

If Rizal was really proven to retract contradicting beliefs against Catholicism, then how come he became a NATIONAL HERO? A true hero NEVER gives up and pursuing thoroughly his idealistic thoughts to banish the colonization into our country. Also a true Filipino, WILL NOT kneel to foreign invaders and display his weaknesses to mess the character and image of Filipinos. Dr. Jose Rizal had proven his true blood of nationalism  at the Bagumbayan. So, I as a Filipino DO NOT BELIEVE that Rizal did retract as describe by the Jesuits.