Whom to elect or not for God, country, self

Archbishop Socrates Villegas wrote a “Catholic and Patriotic Catechism for Elections 2025” to “the People of God in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.”

It may well be a guide for voters of any faith and place on May 12. Excerpted:

“‘Politics are the highest form of charity. Love is a political matter. Love is for everybody; when love is not universal, politics fail in their intent,’ Pope Francis said.

“Urgent concerns need our moral discernment, action and decision:

“(1) At national scale, we must attend to corruption. Our taxes are stolen by those we choose as stewards of public money. We vote for convicted thieves, the notoriously dishonest and those unwilling to account for their use of public funds.

“(2) China intrusion into our seas is an ever-present threat, aggravated by Filipino accomplices who defend this invasion.

“(3) Neglect of the common good is a pressing issue. Foremost is universal health care, or the access of each Filipino to specialist care in provinces.

“(4) Political dynasties have made a mockery of our electoral process and democracy. All must respect the spirit of the Constitution that clearly and expressly prohibits dynasties.

“Let’s consider these in voting for local leaders:

“(1) Poverty tops the list of concerns, which includes health care, unemployment, nutrition and mal-education.

“(2) Lack of peace and order, and use of murder to solve criminality have worsened our lives.

“(3) The rich and highly placed get away with crime and malfeasance in government, with immorality and irresponsibility in their private lives.

“(4) Corruption enabled by political dynasties robs us of public services. Reject dynasties. We need not await Congress’ definition; we all understand what dynasties are.

“What’s wrong with the way we vote?

“Immorality happens during elections that we must resist:

“(1) Stealing government money has become ingrained. Its ugly horn comes out without shame via vote-buying and -selling. It has become organized and condoned as ‘benefits.’

“(2) Voters ask to be paid for their votes. This culture of ‘election-time mendicancy’ breeds vote-buying and fraud.

“(3) With vote-buying comes misinformation, disinformation, malinformation. From campaigns of lies and calumny, we make poor choices. Hate speech and fake news manipulate voters’ judgment and undermine fair elections. The cycle of poverty, corruption and political dynasty and China bullying gains greater strength as we sink deeper into our social quicksand.

“(4) Violence, murder, coercion, intimidation. We live in a vulgar, confrontational, polarized environment – the opposite of God’s plan for us. Hate-language, mudslinging and slander have no place in decent society.

“Unaware, we might have used wrong standards in electing:

“(1) We give sympathy votes to underdogs pitiful like us.

“(2) We are drawn to populist protectors who present themselves as superheroes. They’re unafraid to do what we fear doing. We rally behind them as a consequence.

“(3) We admire providers during dire needs when we’re sick and hungry. They dole out taxpayers’ money and make us owe utang na loob.

“(4) We’re mesmerized by ‘fighter’ candidates who show bravado and sexist machismo, but are actually corrupt and incompetent.

“What is the challenge for faith-based groups as we exercise the right to elect and be elected? Insist on moral integrity for voters and candidates, and social justice at all times; combat disinformation so that we can make truth-based choices.

“Who should we vote for?

“Vote for those who – discerned from their life-stories and from their public conduct – live honestly, not opulently; love sincerely, neither for show nor for applause and take up the causes of the weakest members of society.

“Who should we not vote for?

“Do not vote for those who mock God and those who support them. Do not vote for those who mock religion and ridicule worship and devotion.

“Do not vote for those who support Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea or those who evade the issue by silence and empty rhetoric.

“Do not vote for those who give you money during the campaign. They insult your dignity. By their money, they look down on you as ‘price-tagged objects.’ Resist, fight back by rejecting their names in the ballot.

“Do not vote for those who destroy the reputation of opponents to boost themselves. Purveyors of lies, hate, murder and disinformation are anti-God, because God is Truth, Love and Peace.

“Do not vote for more than one candidate from the same family. One is enough. Do your heroic share to end political dynasties that cripple our democracy.

“Do not vote for re-electionists who did nothing during their term. You empower the incompetent by voting for them again.”

Complete text: https://tinyurl.com/Catechism-Election-2025

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