Priests publicly backing poll bets ‘as individuals’
Facade of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)in Intramuros, Manila City. (File photo by RUDY ESPERAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — While the Catholic Church is not endorsing any specific candidate for the coming elections, many priests have been publicly expressing their support for a presidential candidate, notably Vice President Leni Robredo.
Fr. Michael Angelo Dacalos of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is among these clerics.
He shows his support for Robredo through his social media accounts.
According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), when bishops and priests become vocal and explicit in supporting specific candidates, “they run the risk of being partisan.”
“Partisanship implies division. But clerics are supposed to be sources of unity in the community,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, spokesperson for CBCP.
Dacalos said religious authorities were not promoting the priests’ public endorsement as the bishops remind them that they should be the symbol of unity in communities.
“But the way we understand unity is not just for the sake of unity. We also have to discern it with truth, justice and the Gospel values,” he told the Inquirer on Sunday.
“Whenever priests are endorsing, they are not doing it in the name of the Church but as individual citizens who have a right to vote,” he added.
‘I prayed for it’
Based on the Code of Canon Law, Canon 287 says that clerics should not have an active part in political parties “unless, in the judgment of competent ecclesiastical authority, the protection of the rights of the Church or the promotion of the common good requires it.”
“The reason why we are vocal is not about the need to be vocal but because our superiors, ecclesiastical authorities, know what we are doing,” Dacalos said, adding that they prayed and discerned their choices before speaking out.
For his part, he said his vocal support for Robredo did not come out of the blue.
“I prayed for it … I have been following all of the candidates, I have been researching their background, their projects and their history in social service,” he said.
“With all the candidates, I saw VP Leni was the most consistent because before entering politics, she has been helping our brothers and sisters who are at the edge of the society,” Dacalos said, noting that among all the candidates, Robredo’s actions were consistent with the gospel values.
He pointed out, however, that his vocal support for the presidential candidate does not reach the pulpit, for he respects the conscience of the faithful.
‘Mater et magistra’
“In homily, I tell them that our conscience needs to be formed and informed by the church principles … I clarify that the CBCP as an institution does not endorse any candidate because the Church respects their right to vote,” Dacalos said.
The role of the Church is to be the “mater et magistra,” which means a mother and a teacher, because it guides the laypeople morally and spiritually, he said.
“We can be very active politically but forget the moral and spiritual point of view, which the Church offers,” he added.
While most clerics are publicly supporting Robredo, Dacalos said there were also those who were backing other candidates.
“In a way, I would understand if they are for other candidates but if they are supporting those who are really outrightly disregarding truth, life, law, that I cannot comprehend,” he said.
“How can we reconcile that we are preaching truth, life, peace and love and yet our very moral choices speak otherwise?” Dacalos said.
Aside from El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde who has publicly endorsed the candidacy of the son and namesake of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Dacalos said he has not yet encountered a member of the clergy who was vocal and outspoken in supporting other candidates.
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