03 August, 1902

TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:

Isabelo de los Reyes proclaimed the establishment of the “Iglesia Filipina Independiente” or better known as Aglipayan Church with Father Gregorio Aglipay as Supreme Bishop.

Msgr. Aglipay, once a Roman Catholic priest but later excommunicated by the Vatican for inciting rebellion within the Filipino clergy, helped “Filipinize” the parishes and established religious freedom in the country during the Spanish rule.

In effect, the Aglipayan Church absolutely rejected the spiritual authority of the Pope (then Pope Leo XIII) and abolished the celibacy requirement from its clergy, allowing marriage among its priests who were all apostate Roman Catholic priests.

(Ref: Philippine News Agency)