The head of the country’s Catholic bishops’ conference told Filipinos not to treat each other as enemies despite their political differences, especially in this year’s national elections.
“We have no other enemy in this world than the prince of lies, Satan,” said Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the bishops’ conference, said in Filipino.
Bishop David delivered the homily during the “Solidarity Mass for the Moral Choice” led by Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran on Wednesday, April 6.
“[Satan] is the only one that the Church wanted us to renounce since our baptism,” said the prelate during that celebration that aims to pray for “clean and honest elections” in May.
Bishop David urged the faithful to be more involved in politics and stand for the truth.
“Sometimes anger and hatred can serve as a blindfolds that cover our eyes,” he said.
“Vote for the popular and winnable, they would say. Where is the concern in that attitude? Let us share by doing our role,” added Bishop David.
He called on the faithful not to leave to others the choice of leaders.
“We should be involved, we should be part of it, let us change even little by little our political culture,” said the bishop of Kalookan.
“If we look down at political action, then it will not result in development,” he added.
The bishop reminded the people to vote for candidates who embody love for God and country, who will advocate for the environment, and who have respect for human life.
Bishop Davit noted that the Church’s failure to play its role in politics in the past resulted in negative reactions when Church leaders started to speak out.
He said that more than ever, the Church has a bigger task in the coming elections because the major issues raised during the campaign period concern with morality, the truth, and lies.
The celebration of the “Solidarity Mass for the Moral Choice” was a response to the call of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in its pastoral letter “Be Concerned about the Welfare of Others.”
“Our bishops exhort us to ‘continue praying, doing good to our neighbor, offering sacrifices and begging God for the grace of a credible, peaceful and successful election for our common good,’” read a circular from the Archdiocese of Manila.
In a pastoral letter released last month, the country’s Catholic bishops called on the Filipino people to “fight indifference” especially during this year’s elections season.
“Let us participate and express ourselves in a just, respectful and peaceful manner,” read the pastoral letter. “Let us especially be concerned for the welfare of our people and country,” it added.
The bishops noted that some “have always been mere spectators – unconcerned until they are personally affected.”
“Where, then, is the love and care for our neighbor?” said the prelates in the statement signed by Bishop David as the conference’s president.
“Let us contribute by fulfilling our responsibilities. We cannot build the future without being involved. Let us not leave this task to others. We need to actively participate in this endeavor,” said the bishops.
They urged the Filipino people to “gradually transform our political culture.”
