A high-ranking official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has reminded priests and church officials not to use the pulpit to endorse candidates as the campaign period for politicians seeking national posts entered its second day on Wednesday.
In an interview with reporters, CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace chair Broderick Pabillo said that it has been a long-standing practice of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines to shy away from supporting politicians during elections.
“Matagal namang katuruan ng simbahan na hindi gagamitin ang pulpito sa politicking or for a certain candidate,” Pabillo said.
(It has been a practice in the Catholic Church not to use the pulpit for politicking or for [endorsing] a certain candidate.)
READ: CBCP: Church won’t endorse candidates, urges conscience voting
However, he said that this does not mean that the Church is barred from expressing their stance on certain political issues, such as election reform.
Pabillo represented the CBCP in the FAITH.e (Fairness, Accuracy, Integrity, and Honesty in Elections) coalition composed of religious leaders from Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Baptist and Islam church-based groups.
FAITH.e urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to fully implement Republic Act 9369 or the Election Automation Law, particularly the security mechanisms in place for vote counting machines, to ensure honest and credible elections.
“Non-partisan ito (FAITH.e coalition) kasi gusto natin na maging maayos ang takbo ng eleksyon. Hindi kami nagsasalita para or laban sa isang kandidato kung hindi para sa maayos na halalan na kapani-paniwala ang resulta,” the auxiliary bishop of Manila said.
(FAITH.e is non-partisan because we want the election to go smoothly. We are not speaking for or against any candidate, instead we speak for efficient elections with credible results.)
READ: Faith coalition: How did Comelec get away with leaving out poll safety features?
Pabillo also reminded candidates not to sponsor mass weddings or other church activities during the 90-day election period.
“They can attend but they should not sponsor,” he said.
The church was once criticized for being partisan during the 2013 senatorial and local elections when Diocese of Bacolod mounted a tarpaulin outside San Sebastian Cathedral naming candidates who are for and against the Reproductive Health Law.
The tarpaulin, which became famous after naming bets who either belong to “Team Patay” or “Team Buhay,” was ordered to be removed by the Commission on Elections.
The Supreme Court, in a decision promulgated in January 2015, struck down the Comelec order as unconstitutional as the poll body has no power to regulate the right to expression of private citizens.
The tarpaulin was removed in March 2015, two years after it was posted. CDG
READ: SC rules in favor of Bacolod diocese on ‘Team Patay,’ ‘Team Buhay’ posters