EDITORIAL — The beauty of self-righteousness

The beauty about self-righteousness is that you can choose when, where and how you can proclaim yourself to be holier than the others. The beauty about electoral campaigns is that it provides a vast field of opportunity for the self-righteous to play in.

Since no discussion of what is right can ever be complete in this predominantly Catholic nation, let us consider then the position of the Roman Catholic Church regarding the upcoming elections in May.

Responding to a challenge by Mike Velarde, leader of the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai, to endorse political candidates in the coming elections, the church said it is not right to go to that extent.

In other words, the church deems it improper to go outright and endorse candidates. Yet, from experience, the church appears to have no qualms about lambasting candidates. It appears to follow a different set of standards when indulging in politics.

The church is careful not to risk tarnishing its image by being accused of politicking if it openly endorses candidates. But if it condemns candidates, it can always deny it is politicking by claiming it is part of its duty to tell the people who are the bad candidates.

And if the church can get away with it, more so with the politicians who are not bound by the same fears and restrictions. The politicians can lambaste their opponents about anything but are very quiet about their involvement in the very same things.

For instance, one young congressman who is running for the Senate is so righteous that everyone is a crook but himself. Everything that his enemies do is immoral and wrong. In his eyes he is the only one who is morally upright and perpetually correct.

Then there is this senator with a son aspiring to join him in the Senate. This man is also among the most self-righteous among our politicians. But when it comes to the matter of his son joining him in the Senate, he seems to be as numb to the issue as a frozen turkey.