Abstract
Election is best moment for every candidate to express their desire to serve the people, to fight corruption, to uplift the degrading social status of the poor, to create a just and humane society and to ensure the common good of the nation and of the human community. But it is also the best moment for those who want to manipulate the electorate in order to grab the power by making regulations and measures for personal interest against that of the community. In the Philippines, many of the common electorate were shocked after some leaders of the Catholic Church publicly endorse a preferred candidate and brand her as the best choice among other presidential candidates on the basis that she possess all the Christian values. What’s more alarming is that some priests and nuns are lambasting the poor and others who are supporting other candidates by insulting them as persons incapable of thinking and immoral. The incapacity to accept a choice others than theirs is causing conflict and creates war of classes between the poor and rich.These weaponization of morality into a form of mockery will create resentment, alienation and even curtailment and disrespectthe political freedom and responsibility of the electorate. What is the fundamental role of the church then? How can this conflict that is happening affect the relationship between the church and her faithful? Is the Church really allowed to play an active role in political parties?
Presenters
Luke Antonie QuijanoNovice, Novitiate, Rogationist of the Heart of Jesus, Cavite, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
The Role of the Church, Formation of Conscience, Alienation, War of Classes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI
