MANILA, Philippines?The top Catholic prelate in the country Thursday reminded the religious to refrain from endorsing candidates in the May 10 elections.

In a circular, Catholic Bishops? Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Nereo Odchimar said priests and bishops must strictly avoid getting involved in politics as taught by the Church.

Odchimar?s statement came after six archbishops and bishops endorsed the Ang Kapatiran party and its presidential candidate JC de los Reyes.

The prelates said that De los Reyes, whose agenda parallels the Catholic Church?s positions on hot-button issues, was an ?intelligent? choice.

?The Church must refrain from partisan politics, avoiding specially the use of the pulpit for particular purposes, to avoid division among the flock they shepherd,? said Odchimar, the bishop of Tandag City.

Odchimar said the clergy should focus on teaching moral principles and issuing moral guidelines on political activities.

?It must be admitted though that sometimes even teaching moral principles is actually interpreted by some as partisan politics because of actual circumstances; nonetheless, we have to contend with it,? he said.

?In case a member or leader of such association decides otherwise, and becomes a candidate or openly campaigns for a candidate or party, he or she has to resign temporarily,? he said.

The endorsement of Ang Kapatiran by senior CBCP prelates came as a surprise as the influential group had refused to endorse candidates in the past, preferring to issue criteria for the faithful to follow in choosing whom to vote for.

Members of the laity, on the other hand, have been encouraged to engage in politics and partisan activities.