Quezon diocese, churches join poll tarp war

CHURCH MESSAGE A tarpaulin listing members of “Team Patay” hangs on the wall of the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral in Lucena City in Quezon. In Negros Occidental, a new and smaller version of the tarpaulin is displayed in front of the San Jose Obrero Parish Church in EB Magalona town. DELFIN T. MALLARI JR./INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON AND CARLA P. GOMEZ/INQUIRER VISAYAS

LUCENA CITY—Bishop Emilio Marquez urged the faithful here to collectively reject candidates who voted in favor of the controversial reproductive health (RH) law as the Diocese of Lucena also put up its Team Buhay and Team Patay tarpaulins in Quezon churches.

In his pastoral letter read in 36 churches in central parts of the province on Sunday, Marquez recalled that at the height of the debate on the RH bill, the Church was criticized for its failure to muster the votes of Catholic lawmen in Congress.

Marquez cited events in society that made it imperative for the Church to take a common stance and “determined unity” so there would be far-reaching changes in politics.

Several tarpaulins, measuring 2 by 3 feet, were posted on the wall of the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral here.

Seven senatorial candidates were tagged by the diocese as members of “Team Patay” for supporting the RH law. They are Team PNoy candidates—Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda and Alan Peter Cayetano, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros; Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile (United Nationalist Alliance) and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño (independent)

Leftist party-list groups Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Akbayan and Anak Pawis are also on the Team Patay list.

Senatorial candidates listed under “Team Buhay” for opposing the RH law included Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada and Mitos Magsaysay, all with UNA; and Parañaque Rep. Cynthia Villar and Sen. Koko Pimentel, both with Team PNoy.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who also voted against RH law, was not included in the Team Buhay list.

Marquez said similar tarpaulins have been posted in all churches under the diocese supervision.

The bishop said he had sent copies of the pastoral letter to the leaders of the Diocese of Gumaca and the Prelature of Infanta, who still have no resident bishops.

Marquez said the tarpaulin message was not meant to be a form of campaigning against any candidate but was just enlightening the faithful that the RH Law must be repealed because it is an insult to God and to the Catholic doctrine.

He said the final decision on who to vote rests with the citizens

The pastoral letter did not refer to three Quezon representatives who voted for passage of the RH law. But in an interview, Marquez also urged the faithful not to vote for them.

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III (fourth district), Rep. Irvin Alcala (second district) and Rep. Mark Enverga (first district), all voted in favor of the law, while House minority leader Danilo Suarez (third district) voted against it.