MANILA, Philippines -- Don’t be afraid of politics. This was the message of priest-turned-Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio to students of politics who have grown up in an era dominated by traditional politicians (trapos) who put their interests above public service.

In his talk on the role of the Catholic Church in Philippine political discourse to a class of political science majors at the University of Sto. Tomas last Tuesday, Panlilio admitted that politics and power were not necessarily evil, despite the bad reputation they have gained through the years.

The governor, who was temporarily excused from dispensing his priestly duties when he decided to run against two powerful politicians in Pampanga last year, said politics has a transformative power when mixed with Christian faith.

“In the words of the youth today, power has had a bad rap through these years. We equate power with dominion, perhaps not without reason, as even the recent events in our country have shown,” said Panlilio, also called Among Ed by his constituents.

“But as in electricity, power may be as arbitrary and uncontrolled as lightning, or it may be a utility when channeled through transformers and copper wires. In fact, I will proceed further that power is a gift from God," he added.

“It is my assertion therefore that politics is basically good. But as in all good things, it can be an instrument for evil if it falls short of the mandate of charity that our faith demands,” Panlilio noted.

Although political science majors were taught that the Philippine Constitution mandates the separation of the Church and the State, Panlilio said that particular political concept should be a “non-issue.”

He noted that the separation between the Church and the State is only invoked when politicians feel threatened by the Catholic leadership.

“Politicians want the Church out of politics and yet they get involved with Church decisions if they are threatened with refusal of communion,” Panlilio said.

“It is a non-issue also because a person cannot dichotomize between his citizenship and Christianity. A good citizen is a good Christian. A good Christian is a good citizen,” he said.

Panlilio said students should not avoid political involvement, saying the country needs young people who are political with Christian values.

He urged the students to join him in a crusade for transformation politics, where the system of patronage and fake charity that has enabled traditional politicians to remain in power is replaced with a system that upholds all the Church’s social encyclicals, pastoral letters, and admonitions.

“Our crusade is revolutionary, in a manner of speaking because we are dreaming of uprooting generations of a political culture that we have perceived to have corrupted even the Church herself,” Panlilio said.

For the students, the case of Among Ed’s transformation from being a member of the clergy to a politician was a source of debate and inspiration.

Some of the students argued that Panlilio’s foray into politics blurred the line that separates the State and the Church.

But others believed that Panlilio’s candidacy and election were remarkable and inspirational feats.

“It’s alternative politics. His candidacy gave way to a new way of serving. It’s not just trapos who can serve,” a student said.

Asked why he thought he could not serve his community as a priest and had to enter politics, Panlilio said the people of Pampanga wanted another candidate who was not linked to corruption and illegal activities.