The majority of the priests in the Diocese of Bacolod support Vice President Leni Robredo for president but whether an official diocese position will be made has to be decided and approved by Bishop Patricio Buzon, Fr. Armando Onion of the Commission on the Clergy said Tuesday, January 25.
“At this point in time the bishop is listening to us…the final official position will be made at our recollection in February,” he said.
The priests and bishop met to discuss the Church, politics and the national situation at a diocesan assembly at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City, Tuesday.
Buzon, in an interview Tuesday night, said “the priests can say what they like…as citizens we all have our own choices and nobody can stop us.”
However, “it is very clear that the Church cannot be partisan, all of the candidates are part of our flock and if we are partisan we divide the flock”, he said.
“Our role in politics is to guide…but not to side with one party. It will defeat the purpose of the Church being the center of unity,” Buzon said.
As citizens there is no problem with the priests having their choice, but they cannot do that as an official stand, he said.
“The Diocese will not endorse a candidate as a Church,” he said.
The bishop has said that this upcoming election is crucial because it is a political exercise between good and evil, Onion said.
“The candidate who can approximate Biblical values should be our choice”, Onion said.
At the meeting political analyst Ramon Casiple briefed them on the political situation in the country.
He said early survey results before the campaign period starts is not reflective of how people will vote in May. Surveys results after the campaign period starts will be more reflective of how the vote will go, Casiple added.
A position paper in support of Robredo signed by 204 lay leaders from 22 parishes, schools, and religious groups was presented at the assembly of the priests, Fr. Greg Patiño said.
The 204 from various parts of the Diocese of Bacolod joined a symposium on the national situation at the Holy Family Church in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, on Monday, where Casiple was also one of the speakers, Patiño said.
In their position paper, the lay leaders said they are voting for Robredo because her platform is clear on how to address the needs of the poor and oppressed, the COVID-19 situation, West Philippine Sea, the drugs problem and other matters.
Robredo lives a Christian life that is simple and free from corruption, and she is competent and has the experience to lead the country, they added.
Patiño said the clergy are canonically not allowed to endorse a candidate but there is no corresponding penalty if they do so.
“In a rare situation where morality and Gospel values are at stake then we can make our own decision,” he said, adding that the “truth is not neutral.”
”If truth and justice is at stake we have to make a stand, and that is a prophetic role of the Church,” he added.*