CBCP admits allowing El Shaddai to ‘play politics’

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) admitted yesterday that it has allowed charismatic group El Shaddai to campaign for its favored political candidates in the past.

The admission was made by CBCP secretary general and spokesman Monsignor Hernando Coronel at the CBCP media office in Intramuros.

Coronel said that lay organizations of the Catholic Church such as the El Shaddai, the Couples for Christ and the Elim Community, have in the past been allowed to campaign in elections to express their political preferences but were reminded not to campaign for any political candidate.

Under the leadership of Brother Mike Velarde, the El Shaddai was particularly noted for having allegedly campaigned for former President Joseph Estrada.

El Shaddai spokesman Mel Robles, however, denied that they had campaigned for Estrada or any other political candidate in the past.

Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani affirmed this, explaining that when they invite politicians to come up the stage during their prayer rallies, it is misinterpreted as campaigning for them.

El Shaddai boasts of 11 million members worldwide and the election season usually sees political candidates attending prayer rallies of the biggest charismatic group in the country.

"They have a history of campaigning for candidates in the past," Coronel said of El Shaddai, but pointed out that "they had already learned their lessons."

Earlier, a political party called the Social Justice Society has asked Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Concepcion Alarcon-Vergara of Branch 49 to determine if the acts of some religious leaders in lobbying for political candidates were constitutional.

SJS president Samson Alcantara cited Velarde, Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, Executive Minister Eraño Manalo of the Iglesia ni Cristo, Jesus is Lord (JIL) leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and Bro. Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan as respondents to the case.

Coronel clarifies that what the church allows its lay organizations is to merely remind voters of certain guidelines in choosing their candidates.

The Catholic Church has always reminded voters to choose candidates who are pro-God, pro-family, pro-life, pro-poor and pro-environment and has repeatedly advised people not to vote for candidates who use "guns, goons and gold" in elections. It has also endorsed poll watchdogs such as the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and Vote Care to preserve the sanctity of the ballot.