Scattered Pieces: Stranger's Point of View

Entry No. 11: Rizal's Retraction: Is it a Hoax or a Verifiable fact?

Rizal's retraction is a big controversy, not just before but until now. Did Rizal really retract his anti-Catholic ideas through a document?

The document stated: "I retract with all my heart, whatever in my words, writings, publications, and conduct has been contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic Church."

Until now, the document's authenticity is still a doubt and people still argue if Rizal really retracted or not. It was argued that Rizal retracted in order to save his family from further persecution, to give Josephine Bracken a legal status, and to assure reforms from the Spanish government. However, when Rizal's family requested the original copy of the document, it was said that it was lost, and thirty-nine years later the original copy was found in the archdiocesan archives. Still, there's an allegation that the allegation was a forgery.

Knowing Rizal's character maturity and being true to his words. His behavior is very consistent. Rizal, a wise and intelligent person is aware that whether he retracted or not, he would still be executed no matter what because the Jesuits and Archbishop cannot stop his execution or mitigate his penalty for Rizal had a strong sense of morality. He would never do a thing that would degrade his character even if his life would be put in danger or even sacrificed his life. He never breaks his words for he is true to it, that is Rizal, a man of principle. Rizal would rather choose to die than retract his beliefs that he wanted to inflict on other people. Rizal's character speak so loud even his friends don't believe that he had written a retraction. Come to think of it, "Would Rizal simply neglect all the writings he conceived with his hard work?"

His writings clearly indicate religious instability before such as his poem, Mi Ultimo Adios. Maybe, the issue or the controversy of Rizal's retraction was created only by the Jesuits of the Catholic Church to dirty his name and to stop some impending revolution. Also, maybe the purpose of this is to confuse the Filipinos about his character and to divert the attention of Filipinos on what is really happening before; or maybe to gain back support of Filipino people to Catholic Church.

Whether the controversy is true or not, it detracts nothing from his greatness as a Filipino. Rizal's retraction of his anti-Catholic beliefs will not make him less of a person he is still Rizal, and no one can surpass or equal his deeds and what he did for the country.