Faithful
and Politically Discerning
Various
church organizations have signified their intention to project a Catholic vote
in the coming elections. There is nothing phenomenal about this project since
Catholic organizations are known to decide and act collectively on serious
social and political issues based on their understanding of the social teachings
of the Church. However, the direct endorsement of certain personalities vying
for the next elections seems different from the usual projects that they have
undertaken in the past. The endorsement signals the emergence of a new trend in
the biggest religious faith in the country.
Critics
may belittle its impact but they cannot discount the idea that this could start
a new tradition which may yet prove to be enduring and solid in the coming
years. Of course, the ideological and cultural foundations upon which a solid vote
maybe predicated seems weak, if not lacking, at this time. For one, the Catholic
Church is never really known at coercing its believers into supporting a particular
person or group of persons during elections. Save in instances of statement of
personal preference, the leaders of the Church have not directed its members to
vote for any particular candidates. Moreover, they have never openly chastised
anyone for endorsing any candidates during elections.
The
religious have rallied their flocks in the past to engage in collective actions
to address politically charged situations. This is seen in the two People Power
revolts that have resulted to the ouster of at least two Philippine Presidents.
The leaders of the Church justified these collective actions in the name of morality
and the common good. However, critics thought that such justifications may be
missing in regular political exercises such as the coming elections. As such, they
are claiming that it could hardly be expected that the call to make a
solidarity vote can achieve much at this time.
Voting
for a particular person or group of persons may be justified as a Christian
option when an election involves a clear moral question. While political
neutrality may have served the religious faiths in many instances in the past, exceptional
situations may prove that political neutrality can defeat rather than serve
the common good. An option for political involvement may be demanded by the
circumstances surrounding an election if the latter cannot be separated from
issues affecting social morality and common good. Thus, religious believers are
expected to be politically discerning to give appropriate response to existing
social and political situations.
“Remain
faithful and politically discerning,” this may be the call of the day for
Catholics and believers of other faiths. The Christian faith is not just about Sunday
celebrations. It is a living faith and governs both the personal and social
aspects of the life of a believer. While the religious are called to minister even
to people who are “politically sinners,” they could not use their ministry to
hide from the truth that certain responses are demanded of them by the
difficult social and political situations confronting their mission. Their
mission is to help people find salvation by living the message of love and
redemption in the midst of complex economic, political and social conditions.
Certainly, political actions are parts of Christian duties since Christianity
is a faith which breaths, lives and dies with those who are seeking salvation.
Whether
it is called Catholic Vote or White Vote or Solidarity vote, its meaning remains
clear. Changing the economic, political and social structures that breed and
perpetuate evil is a Christian duty. In the coming elections, the faithful are
called upon to perform their Christian duty to evangelize the world. Their mission
does not end inside their homes and churches. They are called upon to go out
and establish a society that promotes the common good and brings people nearer
to God.
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