Breakthrough (Article from Mindaview)

Breakthrough

It’s heartwarming to note that finally, the Catholic Church through CBCP break the tradition and come out from its own shelf. This development came after  four Catholic Bishops openly declared officially their support for Ang Kapatiran Presidential bid of  Councilor  JC de los Reyes and presumably the entire party’s slate.

True that there is no such thing as solid  Catholic votes in the country.  But the conscience votes the Bishops would like to muster among intelligent Catholic voters is not farfetched specially that JC de los Reyes as heard through public debates are pushing for pro development platforms and rallying issues identified with the Church. And that’s great as he’s consistently staging that crusade in his official capacity as Presidential candidate. He might not make it as he’s young and don’t have that much supporter as shown by surveys. But that  is the most important thing there for a politician to  do,  making his statement clear and strong prompting the Catholic Church engage in reality check where it stand.  That JC de los Reyes said in all honesty, conviction and sincerity in itself  is great relief. Now is the time to draw the battle line.  You’re either consistent with your stand or  simply concocting theology of liberation in pulpit only.

Such is definitely welcome development.  And it is hoped that such encouraging stance  would further generate ripple effect among other Bishops in the country all the way to priests and laymen in parishes. Gone are the days when the ordinary Catholics are  misguided and  left in the dark with tentative nanginlabot dili panghilabot stance of Catholic clergy .  Now is the time to come out in the open and complete the message far better than noodles and sardines homily from a Father Damaso then prelate of  Mt. Carmel to the rescue among the still undecided voters. Dugay na nabiyaan sa panahon. But thanks anyway and I hope such development would be for good and deliver further desirable results making things happen for the party’s platform never mind who might not make it down the line.  But otherwise, Ang Kapatiran party are oozing with talents. Manny Valduesa is one among them and definitely not selecting him and the rest of the slate is a mistake any intelligent Catholic voters could not afford to commit.

How short is our memory! The war has been drawn many decades ago  among  different Church  denominations each reaching out and actively participating  in the political exercise against criticism of others.

 There’s Iglesia Ni Kristo whose one vote by Elder Manalo commands millions others  of votes. Or don’t follow the guidelines and  you would incur excommunication.  Be of one mind, the elder INK Head reminded his flock quoting from St. Paul and so there they go voting as instructed either  by bloc or as identified by the leader. . I personally detest such exercise back then and in fact conducted research about the practice crucifying ecumenism with their partisan politics, but the more I studied and analyze the result, the more I come to  realize the beauty of their process – getting nominees from people and subject them to elimination based on their guidelines whatever it is. I know for one that possible nominee should not cross INK’s path once get elected. I don’t know the rest. Whatever happened that they voted for Erap in one election is explainable as Erap simply enjoyed overwhelming popularity and there just no way of not making him the next President. The result the first ever biggest winning margin for Erap in the country’s election history. With their good intention however, it is enjoined that they open their nominees to all discrediting no one regardless of belief and creed.  Two candidates for instance among Kapatiran party are protestants and what a great and sincere gesture they could extend to Filipino people including them in the list.

Thus, what a miracle and heroic event these six Catholic Bishops did.  Unfortunately, three Bishops this column would like to see have not significantly committed yet  their stand.  I’m referring to the CBCP Chairman and Vice-Chairman Bp. Jose Palma of Tacloban, actually my mentor back then at St. Joseph Regional
Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City.  Third of course, is our own Bp. Antonio Ledesma who I would like to hear his clincher as he seems to drumbeat of possible Catholic votes as featured in one local daily then.

We’re talking here of weeks not months, Sunstar CDO Editor Dan Adorador III reminded. I agree. They better decide now  or loss the opportunity of not just being men standing  in the corner engaging in speculation but also waste away   an experience that only happens once in a lifetime. I hope I’m wrong. So be it!.