(FILE PHOTO – Kuha ni Alvin Joseph Kasiban)
11 Agosto 2015, 10:38p.m. – SUPORTADO ng mga obispo ang balak
ng mga grupong laiko na mag-endorso ng mga kandidato sa halalang pambansa sa
2016.
Ngunit hindi kailanman mag-eendorso ang Simbahan ng sinumang
kandidato, bagkus ay ipauubaya ang pagpili sa mga botante, pahayag
ng Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“While the CBCP and the Catholic Church in the
Philippines will never endorse a particular candidate or a particular party,
leaving the consciences of voters sovereign in this respect, in keeping with
long-accepted moral teachings of the Church, we commend efforts such as these
to arrive at a collective discernment on the basis of Catholic standards and
principles, that are not necessarily sectarian,” ani Arsobispo Socrates
Villegas, pangulo ng CBCP, sa isang liham pastoral noong Agosto 11.
Hinimok ng CBCP ang mga laiko na magdaos ng mga debate ng
mga kandidato upang mabigyang pagkakataon ang publiko na mas makilatis ang mga
kandidato sa halalan. Sa ganitong ring paraan, mas mailalahad ng mga
kandidato ang kanilang mga saloobin at plataporma.
“As the political engine is revved for the presidential
elections, we urge our lay persons to be actively engaged in the apostolate of
evangelizing the political order … We encourage debate among
the candidates, and we hope that our dioceses will organize public fora and
debates that allow the public to familiarize themselves with the positions,
platforms, plans, beliefs and convictions of our candidates,” ani Villegas.
Dagdag pa ni Villegas, na arsobispo ng Lingayen-Dagupan,
nararapat nang supilin ang mga “political dynasty” sa pamahalaan ayon na rin sa
Konstitusyon ng 1987.
“It is regrettable that Congress has, despite prompting
by the Filipino people themselves, failed to pass a law that gives life to the
Constitutional rejection of political dynasties,” aniya.
Hinikayat rin ni Villegas ang mga nasa gobyerno na bigyan ng
pansin ang problema ng kahirapan at kapayapaan sa bansa, lalo na sa Mindanao.
“We take heart from the earnestness with which our
lawmakers address the problems of Muslim Mindanao for we have always insisted
that a peaceful and just settlement must be acceptable to all: Muslims and
non-Muslims alike,” aniya. Krystel Nicole A.Sevilla
