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
Log: Headlines, Pastoral Statement, Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara
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