Church to politicians: Bring Christ's teachings to your world

CEBU, Philippines - So that people will no longer judge the country's political system as an arena tainted by corruption and opportunism, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle urged politicians to bring the teachings of Christ to their world.

“If you, politicians, are serious about your being Christian, bring the kingdom of Christ and His gospel there. No one will ever clean your world but yourself,” Tagle said in a report from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Monsignor Esteban Binghay, the Episcopal vicar of the Archdiocese of Cebu, seconded Tagle's statement.

“Politicians are very influential people, mao na kung sila Kristiyanos ug Katoliko, ilang puy-an ilang pagtuo and to give conscience to politics. Politics is not just an exercise in administration but also exercise of Christian faith in terms of service to politics,” Binghay said.

Tagle also urged the Catholic faithful to be active heralds of new evangelization by living the faith they profess and influencing individuals in their respective communities with faith and gospel values.

He said, in a statement, that the laity does not have to become ordained just to proclaim the good news, noting that their being secular plays a vital role in the mission of the Catholic Church to propagate moral and spiritual ideals to its people.

Tagle added in the said statement that since the lay people greatly outnumber those who are ordained, they can reach a wider scope of individuals through bringing their influence to their respective communities.

In helping the laity fulfill its mission, Tagle urged priests to help in their formation by developing and equipping them in their mission.

Tagle said that the responsibility of priests is to recognize the gifts present in their community, eventually nourishing and developing the laity to be one in communion and salvation.

“Kinahanglan ang mga tawo nga mo-encourage pod sa mga politicians running the government, not only to serve them in material things but also in spiritual things,” Binghay said.

“To live their faith so that they are credible in teaching the people they serve to do the same, to practice their faith in all kinds of people,” Binghay added.

Tagle hopes that before the end of the Year of Faith, more lay people will be trained to become effective heralds of the word and that they would be able to relay the message of God in a clear and proper way, adopting a missionary orientation.

He added that the laity has the right to receive in abundance the spiritual goods of the church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.

Tagle stressed that the lay people should express their opinion for the good the church, but they must do it in truth, courage, prudence, reverence, and charity through all the proper channels.  (FREEMAN)