Changing Colors according to Season (Pun Intended)

I received a long comment from one of my friends regarding my previous articles on a pro-abortion senatorial candidate being featured in a "Catholic" media outlet.

His points can be summarized as follows:

- This candidate is an advocate of workers’ rights and social justice.

- He has been a catechist and has defended the victims of alleged EJK victims in Escalante.

- Almost all other candidates are also pro-RH, pro same sex civil union and pro divorce.

There is one thing that my friend missed, I am not speaking about RH Law, or about same sex civil union or divorce, I am referring to abortion.

This candidate, Atty. Luke Espiritu has publicly expressed that he is in favor for the “decriminalization of abortion.”

Before I go on, I want to make myself clear here. I am not evaluating the character, competence, commitment, and conscience of this candidate because as the famous quip of Pope Francis goes “Who am I to judge?”

More so this candidate has truly done much for the workers and the marginalized.

That is not my contention here.

In my previous article I wrote that for me it is important that we Catholics should advocate what we believe.

In other words, if there are issues that involve the teachings of the Church particularly those that are clearly taught by the Magisterium then we should fight for it.

That should be our guideline in evaluating the candidate, hindi ang mga ara sa panganod nga mga guidelines (not those guidelines that are not anchored to reality) as if one is able to assess such criteria as conscience and commitment.

When the Church speaks about the faith it is not to dominate or impose its doctrine to society but to contribute its voice in nation building.

From a purely sociological point of view, it is a matter of who has the voice to shape society.

From a religious point of view, it is to evangelize and form the people.

A silent Church is a complacent church who allows society to be formed by those who wield the powers of the government.

This is what the secularist really wants, that the Church should be silent on issues regarding society and just to focus on its own institutional life.

This results to the alienation of the people from their faith which makes religion irrelevant and peripheral.

Of course, in the Philippines there is no Catholic vote. Filipinos vote according to personalities and not on principles, which brings me to another point.

During the RH Law controversy, there was a strong opposition against it.

The Diocese of Bacolod, in particular, even went to such extent as to list the names of those who are pro-RH and posting it on large tarps attached to the facade of the cathedral.

I am not saying that we should do that again.

By why the silence on issues that concerns the teachings of the Church?

Is it because this has now become an inconvenience?

What changed?

For me this is the very reason why the Catholic church during election is a laughingstock.

There is no consistency in its advocacy, and it changes colors according to season (pun intended).

Sadly, Catholics are willing to compromise the teachings of the Church in exchange of a politician’s promises.

This is indicative that Catholics does not really value what is being taught to them.

Many Catholics are such by name and culture only.

I remember during one conversation with a teacher when he said “ang mga kandidato kag mga party list naga-upod man lang sa simbahan kon magsigo sa ila nga advokasiya pero ini sila amo man ang una nga naga kontra sa simbahan kon magduso na ang simbahan sang iya nga mga pagpanudlo.”

(Translation: Candidates and party lists allied with the church when it is suits their agenda and advocacies, but these same people are rabid opponents of the church if the church will teach on issues that are not according to what these candidates and party lists advocate).

Some call this “critical collaboration,” I call this “convenience.”

More interestingly, now “Catholic media” are featuring this candidate in the guise of news.

PS: There is another senatorial candidate Roy Cabonegro who is for the legalization of abortion.

Picture from Rappler article entitled "WHERE THEY STAND: 2022 senatorial bets’ stance on various issues" Mar 12, 2022 10:50 PM by Jairo Bolledo accessed March 31, 2022