diced b Jos e S. Arc a, - non

story, like Rizal's, conceived with the purpose of discrediting all the friars inthe Philippines, described as reactionaries, exploiters, enemies of all mannerof economic and intellectual growth, and responsible consequently for all theevils of his country.VIII. JOSE RIZAL IN THE EYES OF THE FRANCISCANSWe now know Rizal's attitude towards the Franciscans. But what was theirattitude towards the author of Noli? What did they think of him? Consideringthat he gives such importance to them in his writings, the normal thing wouldbe for them to have striven to refute, or, at least, comment on the publicationsof a man who, for reasons not too clear, had made them the target of hismerciless and devastating attacks.But no; it seems as though the friars of Saint Francis, deeply affected bythe terrible accusations hurled against them, had drawn a thick curtain ofsilence over an event that, almost ineluctably, must have agitated widesectors of the Franciscan province. How do we explain this silence?Perhaps the Franciscan response could mean several things: admissionthat Rizal was not entirely wrong in his denuntiations, and so, as acceptanceof part of the responsibility for the moral decadence of the Philippines. It wasnot prudent—perhaps not even possible—to hold a dialogue with someonewho in such a visceral and unilateral manner had held them up to ridicule (for,after all, they were not the only ones, nor possibly the more guilty of thatsituation). Pardon, not physical or verbal violence, was the answer more inkeeping with the Gospel.These remarks may seem to provoke questions. The facts, however, pointto the direction we have indicated as our initial reply. The publication of theNoli me tangere was received in certain political and religious sectors of thePhilippines with great disgust and the book was the object of strong criticismand condemnation. But, contrary to what could be expected, we do not knowof any censure, official or officious, by the Franciscans, and the very fewindividual opinions expressed about either the novel or its author aregenerally done in a noticeably moderate tone. This makes one think that therecould have been an order from the higher spheres of the Franciscan Provinceof Saint Gregory, imposing absolute silence in the matter. In 1888, shortlyafter he had been forced to leave the Islands, and deeply chagrined at thehostility shown him by some whom till then he had considered his friends,Rizal complained to Blumentritt that, because of their friendship, the Jesuits177