Archdiocese: Don’t drag church into political affairs

CEBU, Philippines - As political aspirants gear up for the 2016 polls, lay groups are reminded not to drag the name of the Catholic Church into their respective campaigns, no matter how noble the intentions.

Monsignor Joseph Tan, Archdiocese of Cebu spokesperson, emphasized this so that the church would not be tagged as interfering in the “affairs of the temporal domain.”

“Group of lay people in the church can form a political group to promote good politics but they must not use their affiliation with the church. It…(is because) the church is not officially sanctioning them and not supporting them institutionally,” he said.

This, as Tan underscored the importance of the separation of the state and the church in the forthcoming elections.

“The separation of the church and state works advantageously with the side of the church because the church believes in the principle of subsidiarity. It believes that every creature made by God has been gifted with intelligence and talents to decide certain things within their domains,” he said.

He also said the political arena belongs to lay people, not the clergy.

“This the reason why the religious, the priests and the church leaders should not be in the (political) arena.  Let the lay get involved because it is their domain,” he said.

He said lay people are encouraged to serve the public, but clarified that the church will not endorse or anoint a candidate to parishioners, as they are equipped to make wise and political choices for the country.

The church, Tan said, advocates freedom to choose and respect for value system.

“You don’t need the voice of the bishops and priest on whom to vote. We respect your competence as Catholics/non-ordained having an initiative and the one placed in the temporal level by God,” he said.

He cited an instance where a Pope believed he had the power of two swords that God had given him—the power to rule the spiritual domain and the temporal domain.

Tan said there was a time in the history of the church when Popes in a way served as “king makers,” but the church leaders realized that it was not its mission to dominate everything.  

He said the church’s mission is more on the conscience and spiritual formation.

Fr. Roberto “Bob” Ebisa, SVD, station manager of dyRF, echoed Tan’s sentiments in yesterday’s Cebu Citizens-Press Council meeting. He spoke on issues such separation of the church and the state and sensitivity of the religious to media coverage, among others.

Ebisa said the church will never coerce member of its flock to vote for a certain politician whom the church favors.

“The church will never impose or endorse that you will vote for this one. That would be contrary to the freedom to choose and free conscience to vote,” he said.

Fr. Fidel Orendain, SDB, social communications expert, also said the church has to participate in certain areas but it needs proper communication and the right message to relay. This is such so that it would not hurt the feelings of parishioners. He cited as example the opposition of the church on the passage of Reproductive Health Law.

“Re-education and re-orientation of parish priests (and)…bishops is needed so that they could effectively relay the message without bigger wounds and divisions,” he said.

In the same meeting, Ebisa reminded the media to be sensitive in reporting issues involving religion.

Reporters, he said, should have an equipped knowledge about religion, including value systems, beliefs, traditions and practices, before “hitting” religious sectors.

“You should report without hurting the faithful,” he said.

He also advised that media practitioners should “value veracity more over velocity” so as not to sacrifice the quality of the news by presenting different angles in a factual basis.  (FREEMAN)