6. What about individual members of the clergy who decide to be open about their endorsement of political candidates?
The decision of these clergy and religious also needs to be respected. The Canon Law in fact provides for it. As CBCP body, the bishops decided to stick to their roles as “formators of conscience” of the faithful. But if some priests decide to endorse, the explanation of Bishop Pablo David, the President of the Conference of Bishops, in a press conference to explain the Statement is very clear: “Kung humantong sa ganyan ang ibang kaparian, ibig sabihin they have reached the decision in conscience and that is to be respected.”
“Endorsement” can take two forms. First, one can say: I do not endorse this candidates because his/her track record has violated the values of the Gospel, human dignity and justice. Second, another can say: I endorse this candidate because his/her track record would embody the Christian principles we hold important. A diocese or a religious community can also do communal endorsement after their discernment.
7. Can we use the pulpit for political campaigning?
Let me go back to Bishop Pablo David in the same press conference: “Ang pulpit ay para lamang sa pagpapahayag ng Mabuting Balita. Pero siempre kapag pinahayag mo ang Mabuting Balita, may implications siya tungkol sa political life. We cannot separate faith from our political life. Pero huwag gagamitin ang pulpit sa pangangampanya. This has a point. Kasi marami namang venues for expressing one’s political opinion. But in the pulpit, ang nangunguna ay ang Salita ng Diyos at ano ang implications ng paninindigang ito tungkol sa katotohanan, katarungan at kapayapaan.”
8. Does this injunction also refer to the members of religious communities like the sisters and religious brothers of Congregations?
We include the religious here even if the Canon 287 on which this topic is discussed directly refers to the “clergy”. Today, the same questions are asked by consecrated persons themselves. At this historical juncture, the religious also feel the same challenge towards partisan political participation. Canon 272 states that religious are bound by the prescripts of these canons (No. 277, 285, 286, 287, and 289).
