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Can Religion Reform Cultures of Corruption? Lessons from the Philippine Catholic Church
by Beatriz Paterno
During his visit to the Philippines earlier this year, Pope Francis called on the Philippine government to put an end to corruption in the country, and challenged
citizens “at all levels of society, to reject every form of corruption
which diverts resources from the poor.” While the Pope’s admonishment
may seem like mere rhetoric to some, his call to action may have more
significant political implications in a country where nearly 83% of the population identifies as Catholic, and where the Church plays a major institutional role in the nation’s culture and government.
In his 2010 piece “’Good News’ in the Fight Against Corruption,” and more recently in a June 2014 working paper
on systemic corruption, Professor Roberto Laver highlighted the role
religion plays as a cultural force in society, which in turn may impact
how societies respond to corruption in government. Religion can affect
ethical behavior in obvious ways, but it can also affect how public
power and authority are arranged within society. Professor Laver argued
that religion, which is often overlooked as a resource for
anticorruption efforts, should be used as an “entry point” for a “second
generation of reforms” to battle entrenched cultures of corruption.
Assuming
Professor Laver is correct that religious institutions are not playing a
large enough role in anticorruption efforts worldwide, the Philippine
Catholic Church may be an exception to that rule. The Church has been at
the center of numerous political debates for decades, and, if the
Pope’s speech earlier this year is any indication, it will continue to
play a major role in issues involving development, poverty, and
corruption. The Philippine example highlights the essential role an
institution like the Catholic Church can play in addressing systemic
corruption. And by the same token, it demonstrates the costs that come
with entrusting that power to religious institutions and leaders.
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