31/08/2025
CLARIFICATION AND RESPONSE TO THIS STATEMENT | IFI Page Gallery
We understand that there are people who may view Obispo Maximo Gregorio Aglipay negatively, often describing him as a โheretic, schismatic, freemason, and excommunicated Catholic.โ However, we believe it is important to put these claims in their proper historical and theological context so that we may look at Aglipay fairly โ not just through the lens of labels, but through the reality of his life, faith, and service to the Filipino people.
1. On the Claim that Aglipay is the Founder of IFI
It is often said that Gregorio Aglipay is the founder of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). While Aglipay is indeed the most prominent leader of the IFI, it is more accurate to say that the Church was formally established in 1902 through the leadership of Isabelo de los Reyes, a nationalist writer, labor leader, and reformist who organized the Filipino clergy and laity to create a church free from colonial domination. It was De los Reyes who officially proclaimed the founding of the IFI and later invited Aglipay to lead it. Aglipay was then chosen and installed as its first Obispo Maximo (Supreme Bishop), making him the guiding figure and spiritual head of the new church.
2. Aglipay in the Context of History
Gregorio Aglipay (1860โ1940) was not only a priest but also a patriot who stood with the Filipino people during the most difficult years of our struggle against Spanish colonialism. He was appointed Military Vicar General of the Philippine Revolutionary Government in 1898, where he ministered to soldiers and supported the cause of independence. His decisions were never about personal gain, but about the desire to see a free Filipino nation and a church that truly served its people.
3. On Excommunication and โHeresyโ
It is true that the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated Aglipay in 1899. However, excommunication is not a measure of a personโs worth before God, but a disciplinary action by a church authority. Throughout Christian history, many people who were branded as โhereticsโ or โschismaticsโ were later recognized for their deep faith and contribution to the Church. In Aglipayโs case, his so-called โheresyโ was tied to his refusal to submit to foreign ecclesiastical control during the colonial era. For him, faith must go hand in hand with freedom, justice, and dignity.
4. On Freemasonry
Yes, Aglipay, like many of our heroes (Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini), was connected to Freemasonry. But in the 19th century, Masonry in the Philippines was not primarily about rejecting religion; rather, it was a vehicle for education, reform, and the pursuit of freedom in the face of colonial and clerical abuse. For revolutionaries, it was one of the only safe spaces where Filipinos could think critically, organize, and work for liberation.
5. Why Aglipay is Honored
Aglipay is not worshipped, nor is he placed above God. Instead, he is honored as a patriot, reformer, and servant of the people. He reminds us of the struggle for national identity, social justice, and religious freedom. Honoring him is similar to how we honor Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio โ we respect their memory not because they were perfect, but because they stood for what is right in their time.
6. Legacy of Faith and Nationalism
The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) that he helped establish is not just a โchurch separated from Rome,โ but a living witness of Filipino faith, rooted in love for God and love for country. Today, IFI continues to serve communities, preach the Gospel, defend human rights, and work for justice and peace โ values that Aglipay himself held dear.
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In conclusion, whether one belongs to the IFI or the Roman Catholic Church, we can all agree that Gregorio Aglipay is an important figure in Philippine history. To dismiss him as โnot worthy to be honoredโ is to dismiss the struggles of countless Filipinos who longed for dignity, justice, and faith expressed in freedom. Honoring Aglipay is not about division, but about remembering that our faith journey as Filipinos is inseparable from our history as a people.
