Archbishop Socrates Villegas. FILE PHOTO / Roy Lagarde
MANILA, Philippines — Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas on Thursday reinforced his position as both a priest and a Filipino citizen, reiterating the patriotic duty to partake in politics “Pro Deo et patria” (for God and country).
According to Villegas during the Chrism Mass on what is known as the Maundy Thursday of the Lenten Season, all priests are “pro Deo et Pertria.”
“Because we are priests we are called men of God, therefore, a good man of God must also be a good man of the motherland. We are all pro Deo et patria,” said Villegas.
“Love of country is one of the forms of showing love for God. Our country, our citizenship is God’s gift to us. We must be good stewards of this motherland and stewards of mother Church. Pro Deo et patria,” he added.
He explained that to vote is “a patriotic duty as much as a holy duty” as priests did not shed their citizenship of the republic when they were ordained.
“We are priests and we are Filipino priests. Our priesthood, like our Filipino citizenship, will last beyond our death,” said Villegas.
“Beyond death we are priests forever. We are also Filipinos forever,” he added.
He then slammed critics of the church especially in the time of the elections or those who “do not understand what being a priest means want us to stay confined with cult and worship.”
“They like the smell of incense but not the odor of inhuman poverty; they want the sight of candles lit in churches but they want us to ignore the gunfire against the innocent; they want us to say that Jesus is the Truth but they want us to keep quiet about the lies in the cyberspace,” said Villegas.
“They want us to feed the poor but they get angry when we ask ‘Why are they poor?’ They want us to decorate the churches but they want us to keep quiet when the imprint of God is defaced among His children,” he added.
Villegas quoted the declaration of Saint Oscar Romero “We do not want to be an anti, against anybody. We simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us.”
“This is who are. We are priests yes; but we are Filipinos too; willing to live and die for God and country,” the archbishop said.
The priests’ starting point in every statement they make is Christ, said Villegas, as they are the ones who bring God to politics.
“Matalo o manalo sa bilangan, panalo tayo kung nanindigan tayo para kay Kristo (win or lose, we win if we stand up for Christ),” said Villegas.
“Our basic reason for social engagement is Christ. We are not in politics for its power and influence, but for its evangelization. Politics needs salvation through Christ. We are not kingmakers. We are servants of Cristo Rey,” he added.
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