No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances. Section 4, Article III-Bill of Rights, Philippine Constitution. This is the basic law guaranteeing press freedom in our country. It is almost the same, word-for-word, as Amendment I in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

While other nations do not have such a provision in their constitutions, freedom of expression and of the press has become an ideal in todays world. The editors of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine, invoked this ideal when they published several cartoons portraying the prophet Mohammed of Islam.

Muslims, particularly Sunni Muslims, oppose drawings of the Prophet, concerned that they might encourage idolatry. Thus, two Muslim brothers took it upon themselves to take action against Charlie Hebdo; they raided its offices and gunned down its editor-in-chief, five cartoonists, and several other staff members.

Protest demonstrations were held all over Europe. The Western worlds leaders, among them French President Francois Hollande, United States President Barack Obama, the United Kingdoms Prime Minister David Cameron, and Gemanys Chancellor Angela Merkel, joined in condemning the attack. But after Charlie Hebdo came out with another defiant issue, again portraying Mohammed on the front cover, Muslim counter-rallies erupted in Senegal, Mauritania, Jordan, Algeria, and Pakistan. Angry mobs ransacked three Christian churches and set fire to a French cultural center in Niger.

Days before the violent counter-rallies, Pope Francis spoke with reporters who were with him on the plane to the Philippines. Free speech is a fundamental human right, he said, and there is no justification for the killing of Charlie Hebdo jounalists. But, he said, there are limits to freedom of speech, especially when one insults or ridicules someones faith.

As a nation which enshrines press freedom in its Constitution, we readily join those rallying for it. But Pope Francis, in his wisdom, sees the need to recognize limits to freedoms. Nothing indeed is truly absolute the root word in absolutism in this world. When, in the exercise of press freedom, the Pope said, people insult the faith of others, they are provocateurs and can expect extremist reaction.

Words of wisdom from a man of God, worthy of our deepest consideration.

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Editorial: Limits to freedom