Catholic groups launch white vote movement

MANILA, Philippines - Catholic groups launched a campaign yesterday to try to muster millions of votes for senatorial candidates who opposed the controversial Reproductive Health law passed last year and prove the church remains a force to be reckoned with.

In a press conference for the launch of the White Movement at the College of Divine Wisdom at Amvel Business Park in Parañaque City, Catholic leader and El Shaddai founder Mike Velarde said his group and dozens of other lay organizations are joining together to campaign in the May 13 midterm elections for pro-church candidates who could help battle possible legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, divorce and abortion.

Velarde said the groups could deliver up to six million votes in about 3,000 Catholic communities across the country, enough to ensure the electoral victory of pro-church candidates vying for 12 Senate seats in next month’s elections.

The new movement wants to prove that the Catholic Church’s clout remains formidable, he said.

“The Catholic Church is not dead,” Velarde told a news conference. “It is alive; it has power.”

“We have now set the tone for a straight path, a daang matuwid. We have to light that path,” he said.

The White Movement was initiated last February and March by the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, formerly the Council of the Laity of the Philippines, in a move to strengthen and preserve core family values.

This resulted in the creation of the “Lay Solidarity for Family and Life” that has now evolved to the “White Vote Movement.”

Among the groups are Couples for Christ, CFC-Foundation for Family and Life, Catholic Women’s League, Focolare Movement, Bukas Loob sa Diyos Covenant Community, and the Lord’s Flock.

Other members of the coalition are the Adoracion Nocturna Filipina, Archdiocesan Council of the Laity of Lipa, Archdiocesan Council of the Laity of San Fernando, Pampanga, Catholic Teachers’ Guild, Children of God Our Father of All Mankind, Christian Family Movement, Children of Mary/Vincentian Marian Youth, Christ’s Family Mission Movement, Diocesan Council of the Laity of Kalookan, Diocesan Council of the Laity of Novaliches, Diocesan Council of the Laity of Tarlac;

Familia Community, Family Renewal Movement, Family Rosary Crusade, Family Rosary Crusade-Youth, Holy Name Society of the Philippines, Kababaihan ng Maynila, Knights of Columbus-Luzon Jurisdiction, Live Pure Movement, Marriage Enhancement and Team Services, Mother Butler Mission Guild, National Sandigan Foundation, Papal Family of Kalookan, St. Peter Community, St. John Apostle & Evangelist Association, Teodoroa, Teresian Association, Women of Asia for Development, and Young Christian Workers of the Philippines. 

Velarde said a “circle of discernment” was deliberating on senatorial candidates’ records and positions on issues, after which they would decide whom to endorse on May 13.

“We’re still in the process of examining their backgrounds, their commitments to family and life,” he said.

He said the first batch of endorsees would be announced on Saturday, and another batch next week.

Velarde said while choice is an individual right, it is not always correct, and the Catholic lay groups would now lead the faithful to choose wisely.

He added that while canon laws prohibit the clergy to endorse candidates, lay groups are allowed to do so.

“Though we endorse, we do not impose,” he said.

Volunteers of the movement have started mobilizing to spread the word that there will be a Catholic vote in the coming elections. – Rainier Allan Ronda, AP