Disagree, but don’t be enemies, CBCP head tells voters

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David deliver his homily at the Baclaran Church on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.. (Photo from a video posted on Facebook by Baclaran Church)

MANILA, Philippines — Despite differences in beliefs, voters should not treat each other as enemies.

Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), made the appeal on Wednesday in his homily for the “Solidarity Mass for the Moral Choice” at the Baclaran Church in Parañaque.

“My brothers, we should not treat any of our countrymen as enemies, even those who disagree with us,” David, who is also the bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan, said in Filipino.

“I’m happy to hear voices saying: ‘We are not really enemies. You are part of what we’re fighting for.’ he added. “This is the right attitude for a Christian because we have no other enemy than the prince of lies — Satan.”

On the other hand, he also warned against being “neutral” in the May elections — the way Pontis Pilate tried to appear neutral on the issue of having Jesus crucified.

“Pilate did his own investigation. So he knew the truth about the accusations against Jesus. But because he feared being called a traitor to the interests of the emperor and being removed from power, he merely washed his hands instead of taking a stand. He chose to be ‘neutral’ because he could not stand for the truth,” David said.

The bishop went on: “Pilate also knew that those who wanted Jesus to be nailed to the cross had been paid — no different from the social media trolls of today, who are experts in controlling public opinion by spreading lies as truth. Do we want Jesus to be crucified again in the coming elections?”

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