Clergy scored for politicized homilies

BALER, Aurora , Philippines  – Certain Catholic priests in the province have come under fire from critics who accused them of allegedly politicizing their homilies and using the pulpit to deliver personal attacks against local politicians, in effect driving the faithful to depart from their Catholic faith in an exodus to other religions.

Supporters of a prominent political clan in the province have accused the priests of allegedly bad-mouthing the clan in a “homily-orchestrated demolition job” instead of providing spiritual enlightenment to parishioners and devotees.

One of the clan’s supporters said that because of the political nature of the homilies, Catholic faithfuls from this predominantly Catholic province are being driven away to other religions in disgust, thus, resulting in the increase of memberships in these sects, particularly the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Pentecostal churches.

In the country, some 72.9 million or 81 percent of the 90 million Filipinos are Catholics. The country holds the distinction of being the third largest Catholic nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico and the only other predominantly Catholic nation in Asia aside from East Timor.

But because of politicized priests, the Catholic population in the province is now “waning fast,” a pity considering it is celebrating its 400th year of Christianization, reports said.

One of the priests accused of delivering politicized homilies is Fr. Nilvon Co Villanueva, parish priest of the San Luis Obispo Parish. Villanueva has long been considered a vocal critic of the Angaras, particularly Sen. Edgardo Angara.

A staunch supporter of the Angaras said that while the clan is being verbally abused by Villanueva, he has not delivered a single homily attacking other politicians, particularly those deemed to have committed irregularities in government.  – Manny Galvez