INC: Nothing illegal with endorsements

Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eraño Manalo asked yesterday a Manila court to junk a lawyers’ group’s petition to stop religious leaders from endorsing politicians during elections.

In an eight-page motion to dismiss, Manalo asked Judge Concepcion Vergara of Regional Trial Court Branch 49 to dismiss the declaratory relief filed by lawyers’ group Social Justice Society (SJS), because the practice of endorsing candidates was "not contrary to law, morals, good customs and public policy."

Manalo was among the religious leaders named in the declaratory relief filed by the SJS, led by its president Samson Alcantara, which claimed the practice was a violation of the constitutional mandate of separation of Church and State.

Aside from Manalo, also named in the petition were Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde, Jesus is Lord leader Eddie Villanueva and Ang Dating Daan head Eli Soriano.

Manalo said SJS failed to show how the religious leaders’ endorsement of candidates infringed on the constitutional provision.

"They vote as one in furtherance of their religious belief that unity amongst the brethren is essential to their salvation," Manalo stressed in his petition.

Manalo pointed out that "one would wonder why the petitioners, whose founding members are eminent members of academe, would knowingly institute an action over a non-existent cause of action."

"Precisely, by voting as one, INC members are merely acting in accordance with their religious belief based on the Holy Scriptures. They do so, not for the purpose of ensuring the victory of the chosen candidates, but primarily to give flesh to their belief that only by acting in unity will their brethren be truly faithful to the Church and then be able to attain salvation," Manalo explained.

"Undoubtedly, the manifestation of unity is not contrary to law, morals, good customs and public policy," the pleading read.

In their petition, Alcantara said the court should declare whether the act of a religious leader in endorsing a political candidate is violative of the Constitution.

Aside from endorsements, SJS also wants clarification particularly on practice of religious leaders urging or requiring their followers to vote for a particular candidate.

"Is the constitutional principle of separation of Church and State meaningless? Can a religious group that cannot even be registered as a political party perform the acts of a political party? If so, should not the principle be deleted from the Constitution?" the petitioner asked.