Church writer proposes candidates-voters forum

A dialogue between candidates and the parishioners must be held at the parish level to serve as the voters'' gauge of who are the better candidates, proposed a regular contributor of the weekly newsletter of the Cebu Archdiocese.

St. Therese Parish community leader Dr. Lindy Morrel said that parish assemblies should be activated to serve as a venue for an interchange of ideas and plans for governance between the candidates and the voters.

These gatherings, which should be done regularly as a series, will veer away the penchant of some candidates and their supporters of hostility against their opponents, said Morrel.



These will also be called accountability dialogues where each of the candidates will be given the chance to answer directly the parishioners'' concern in their community.

Morrel said, "The parishioners can also request the candidates to present their platforms, plans, and programs of governance, as well as their understanding of the issues in the community which the candidates hopes to focus on and to ask the community''s support."

The voters can also ask the candidates about their respective qualifications and credentials that will make them fit for the position they are vying for, he said.



He said in such public forum, the citizenry can ask the candidates to inform parishioners of their qualifications and credentials needed for the positions they are running for.

These assemblies will effectively expose to the public who among the candidates are really fit for the job and determine those who are not, he said.

"This paves way to the exercise of Catholic conscience by the candidates and the parishioners," he said. - Ferliza C. Contratista/RAE