ISSUE OF RETRACTION Rizals Retraction Versions) English Version I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in which I was

born and educated I wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever she teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate Masonry, as the enemy which is of the Church, and as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in order to repair the scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and people may pardon me. Manila 29 Jose Rizal Main Points Retraction of December of 1896 (Spanish, English Retraction in Dapitan - Written a retraction in Dapitan in 1895 - Fell in love with Josephine Bracken - Required to sign a profession of faith and to write retraction (to be approved by Bishop of Cebu) to marry Josephine Rizal wrote with the help of a priest - Original copy was held by some friars The Issue: Is Rizals Retraction Real or Not Real? Rizals Retraction is Real Father Balaguers Account * La Masonizacion de Filipinas, Rizal y su Orba (Chapter 17) written by Jesuits; full account of Rizals last day; based on Fr. Balaguers notes * Jesuit Narrative Father Balaguers account - Rizal talked about being a Protestant - Fr. Balaguer threatened that Rizal will go to hell - Archbishop sent a circular that all Catholic communities plead for Rizals conversion - Long formula of retraction too long, different style - Short formula prepared by Fr. Pio Pi Differences Rizal insisted on Short Version 1.) After the word religion he added in which I was born and educated. 2.) 'I abominate Masonry as a society condemned by the Church' 'I abominate Masonry as the enemy that it is to the church and prohibited by the same' (Masonry of the Philippines is not anti-Catholic) Catholic practices - peformed Acts of Faith, Hope and Charity based on the devotional book/pamphlet Aceptacion de la Muerte (Father Vilaclara) - repeated prayers and prayed the rosary - confession and mass - marriage with Josephine Bracken by Father Balaguer

and

Versions

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Rizals

Main Points y abomination of the Masonry y retraction of Anti-Catholic ideas (writings, publications and conduct) y declaration of being a Catholic Several Versions Released and Published y La Voz Espanola and Diario de Manila (December 30, 1986) y La Juventud (Barcelona, Spain December 14, 1987) anonymous writer Father Balaguer y Father Pio Pis Version (short version which Rizal signed) y original text discovered by archdiocesan archivist Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. in the archdiocesan archives (May 18, 1935)

Possible Reasons for Rizals Retraction y To give Josephine a legal status as his wife y To save his family and town from further persecution y To secure reforms from the Spanish government y To help the church herself to cut away the disease which harmed her friar control of land and domination of the government Strong Evidences y Sworn statements by witnesses priests, lieutenants, soldiers, etc. y Retraction found by Father Manuel Garcia (May 18, 1935) y Retraction was presented to and examined by people of authority y Published in leading newspapers both local and abroad y Catholic acts confession, mass, sacrament of penance, signed Catholic prayer book y Solemn canonical marriage with Josephine Bracken y Rizal was accompanied by two Catholic priests to his execution ground y Kissing the crucifix y Handwriting experts certify Rizals Retraction is Not Real Evidences and Reasons y Original retraction document had been lost for thirty nine years

Retraction diverges from the style of Rizals previous works (Ricardo R. Pascual, Ph.D.) Marriage record of Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken could not be found in the Manila Cathedral nor in the Registry of Fort Santiago where it ought to have been place Rizal was buried in unconsecrated ground burial was recorded 10 months later Neither the Archbishop nor the Jesuits asked for pardon or mitigation of the sentence Character of Rizal - he had rejected Father Sanchez' offer of a professorship, a hundred thousand pesos, and an estate if he would retract; and he had declared that he could not be bought for half the Philippines

Sources: The History of Rizal s Retraction by Nicolas Zafra The Great Debate: The Rizal Retraction by Ricardo P. Garcia http://www.joserizal.ph http://joserizal.info/Biography/man_and_martyr/ch apter16.htm http://mannyamador.multiply.com/journal/item/55/ Exploiting_Jose_Rizal (Exploiting Jose Rizal by Emmanuel Amador)