FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo. Screengrab
MANILA, Philippines — The Couples for Christ (CFC) international council (IC) on Wednesday announced their support for the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
The council of the Catholic lay ecclesial movement said they have reached the decision after their so-called “circle of discernment” process on Sunday, February 20.
This is the first time the council is announcing its support for a particular candidate.
“We began our discussion of the criteria on the premise and realization that there is no perfect candidate. At the end of our prayerful immersion and meaningful discussion, the members of the IC reached the decision to support the presidential candidacy of Leni Robredo,” the CFC-IC said in a pastoral letter.
But it also said that despite their public endorsement of Robredo’s candidacy, they recognize the right of each of their members to make their own choices.
“Thus, we are not imposing this decision on everyone,” it said.
The council added, “As has been our policy over the years, we do not and will not endorse candidates because we do not want to see CFC as an institution imposing bloc voting on the brethren.”
Members of the CFC are being encouraged to go through the same process of discernment. “Should your decision differ from ours, we will respect your choice in the spirit of love and brotherhood that has characterized and will continue to characterize, our being CFC,” the council said, addressing their members.
This is not the first time that a Catholic organization professed its decisive support to the candidacy of Robredo.
The leadership of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines has also endorsed Robredo, which is also an unprecedented move for the Catholic organization.
Some 569 Filipino priests, nuns, religious brothers, and deacons likewise expressed their support for Robredo and her vice-presidential running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan.
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