CFC International Council Statement Ref. No. 19-014 March 6, 2019
On May 13, 2019, we Filipinos will exercise our sovereign right to elect national and local officials. It is an awesome responsibility. For us Couples for Christ, it is an opportune time to fulfill our duty to be “responsible members of society and patriotic citizens” of our country.
As CFC, we are non-partisan, and so CFC as an institution will not be endorsing any particular candidate for any office.
However, our Philippine Church, through the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued a pastoral letter (Seek the Common Good, January 28, 2019). We urge everyone to read and reflect on it. The letter urges Catholics “to engage in principled partisan politics.” This means that we, in our individual capacities, can actually “campaign for good candidates as an exercise of their Christian faith.”
In discerning who is a good candidate, we need to rekindle our CFC core values, to seize this chance to uphold and promote those same values. We should thus be reminded of the following:
We are PRO-GOD. We need to look for candidates who are pro-God as well, who believe in God and, in their personal and professional life, manifest that they are God-fearing, with Godly character and integrity.
We are PRO-FAMILY. Who among the candidates values family and rises to its defense? A pro-family candidate is against legislations or advocacies that pursue divorce, same-sex marriage and other initiatives that diminish the dignity of marriage and family.
We are PRO-POOR. A pro-poor candidate is one with genuine heart and compassion for the poor. He is therefore not corrupt because the corrupt deprive families, especially the poor, of what is necessary to live a dignified life, worthy of one created in the image and likeness of God.
We are PRO-LIFE. Does the candidate value and respect the sanctity of life? A good candidate is therefore one who is against abortion, extrajudicial killings and the death penalty.
In engaging in “principled partisan politics,” we shall do so “by sincere dialogue in a spirit of mutual charity and with anxious interest above all in the common good”. (Compendium of the Social Doctrine 574) Let this election not destroy our unity as CFC. Let us remain above the fray and noise and preserve and maintain the moral ascendancy we as CFC are constantly striving for.
This May election is a perfect opportunity to live out our continuing theme for 2019 – Rekindle the Gift. Fulfill Your Ministry. Live as Children of Light. This theme is best expressed in our battle cry for 2019: AWAKE! ARISE! FULFILL! BE THE LIGHT!
Let us AWAKE to the reality of where our society is at today. Let us acknowledge that real change needs to happen. Let us recognize that this change can only happen if we are convinced that we are part of the solution.
Let us ARISE and defend the values we hold dear, especially the values that define and nurture our marriages and families.
Let us FULFILL our sacred mission to be indeed Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth. We can only renew the earth if we begin with ourselves and with our own families. In this May election, let us fulfill our duty to vote according to our consciences.
Let us BE THE LIGHT! As a light dispels the darkness, let our convictions and our actions shine the light on what is wrong in our country today. Let us consider that our single vote, taken collectively, can be a shining beacon for all to see.
We urge everyone to reflect on these and, with deep prayer, discern what would truly be good for our country.
Together, as CFC, let us indeed BE THE LIGHT IN THE LORD that shines in the darkness.
May God be glorified!
