The head of the bishops’ conference in the Philippines on April 6 urged voters not to be swayed by surveys or disinformation on social media as May 9 national and local elections draw near.
“Let us fight indifference, let us care especially for the welfare of the people and our country. Maybe some of us... will not move until they are affected, waiting to see what the outcome of the election will be, just relying on surveys, and voting for the popular. Where is the concern with such an attitude?” said Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
He said thus while preaching homily in the “Solidarity Mass for the Moral Choice” held at the National Shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church), Manila.
Cardinal Jose F. Advincula, Jr., Archbishop of Manila, presided over the Mass. He was concelebrated by Bishops and priests from the different dioceses and religious congregations.
David cautioned his fellow men and women not to be complacent as polls 2022 draws nearer.
The prelate asked voters to participate in politics by voting responsibly and consciously.
“Our low regard and inaction in our politics will not bring development. Let us not gamble the future of our country,” the prelate said.
“As good Christians, it is our responsibility to God to vote correctly and follow conscience. We will vote for the candidate who is truly for God, humane, patriotic, environmental, and pro-life,” he added.
No one should be “blinded by lies and deception. It can put the conscience to sleep and can harden us like rocks,” he added, asking all, “to always side with the truth even if it is unpopular and even if it hurts.”
“Sometimes when the truth seems as painful as lime on a wound, it's like we no longer want to look and listen. In the context of our journey in the path of Christ, let us not be afraid to walk in the fire of truth,” David said.
While voting for candidates in elections, the CBCP President told the country’s men and women to select persons who possess the needed skills, experience, and competence to discharge their duty and obligations to the country and its people.
He urged voters reject candidates who might gamble on the country’s future.
“Let us contribute by fulfilling our duty, we cannot build a better future without our participation, let us not rely on others, we must participate, let us change even little by little the political culture,” David said.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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