Pastoral Statement for the Diocese of Pasig



CHOOSE GOD!  VOTE GOOD!


It is election time once again.  In the past and even now, there have been pastoral letters and statements written by your Catholic Bishops either as a conference or as a shepherd of his diocese to guide the catholic populace on how to responsibly choose and vote those who will serve us in public office.  Our sacred right to vote demands that we elect for public service, both in the national or local levels, persons who choose God as their core principle in whatever they do and who vote for the common Good instead of their self-interest, all for the benefit of the Filipino people.

As your bishop, allow me to offer some simple guidelines in discerning your choice of public servants. 

1.     Choose G.O.D.  Choose candidates who are:

God fearing: nangangahulugan sila ay Pro-life, Pro-Family at Pro-Marriage.

Offering their time, talent and treasure for the needy: hindi sa makasariling interes, lalo na ang pagpapayaman sa puwesto, kundi para sa tunay na paglilingkod sa tinaguriang “the least, the last and the lost” sa ating lipunan, lalo na ang pag-aangat ng kalagayan ng mga mahihirap.

Duty-bound to protect the integrity of creation and be their guardians: laban sa illegal logging, irresponsible mining at anumang immoral na gawain na pang-aabuso at pangwawasak ng ating mga likas-yaman.

Isang paalala mula sa yaman ng aral ng pananampalataya:

“It must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4).  Ito’y nangangahulugan na anumang adhikain ng isang Katolikong kandidato ay hindi maaaring sumalungat sa kabuuan ng katuruang ng ating Simbahan.

2.     Vote G.O.O.D. Vote candidates who:

Govern with transparency and accountability: lalo na sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan.

Oppose any opportunity of graft and corruption: tulad ng suhol, lagay at komisyon na nakasisira ng kanilang reputasyon.

Organize their campaigns with integrity and fairness: hindi sa tulong ng pambibili ng boto at paninira ng kalaban, kundi may malinaw at maaasahang plataporma tungo sa kabutihan ng mga tao.
Desire only what is best for our nation: hindi ang para sa sarili o sa kanyang pamilya lamang, at handang magpakumbabang isuko ang posisyon at kapangyarihan kapag lumitaw na ang tunay na pinili ng bayan at binigyan ng tiwalang maglingkod ng nakararami.

Para sa inyong pagninilay mula sa mga aral ng pananampalataya:

“Today’s democratic societies . . . call for new and fuller forms of participation in public life by Christian and non-Christian citizens alike. Indeed, all can contribute, by voting in elections for lawmakers and government officials, and in other ways as well, to the development of political solutions and legislative choices which, in their opinion, will benefit the common good.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 1) Samakatuwid, ang pakikilahok at pagboto sa darating na eleksyon ay isang magandang pagkakataon upang makatulong tayo sa pambansang pagbabago at sa pagsulong ng kapakanan ng lahat ng mamamayang Pilipino.

Choose GOD and Vote GOOD. Nawa ang liwanag ng ating konsiyensya, na walang iba kundi ang Panginoong Hesukristo ang gumabay upang pumili at bumoto tayo ng mga kandidatong may karapatang maglingkod para lalong umangat ang bayang Pilipinas, at harinawa ay maging ilaw at pag-asa para sa ibang bansa sa buong daigdig.

Nawa si Maria, ang Immaculada Concepcion na nanalangin: “Ako ang lingkod ng Panginoon. Maganap nawa sa akin ayon sa iyong Salita…” (Lk 1:38) ang maging inspirasyon ng ating magiging mga lingkod bayan at ng bawat isa sa atin.

+Most Rev. Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD
Bishop of Pasig
Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker
1 May 2013





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