Archbishop Soc issues 10-point guide on choosing candidates
AFTER declining to endorse any local candidate, not even revealing his personal choices, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued a 10-point guideline that could help voters in deciding whom to vote for in the May 13 elections.
Archbishop Soc issued a pastoral letter read last April 14 in masses in all churches within his congregation.
“We, your archbishop and priests in Lingayen-Dagupan admonish you to examine your candidates diligently in the light of our Catholic faith,” the letter reads.
First, he advised his flock not to vote for the candidate if he or she cannot declare a categorical and clear “no” to divorce, abortion, euthanasia, total birth control and homosexual marriages, maintaining that pro choice is anti life.
Candidates who must not be voted for, Archbishop Soc, said are those:
- who have been linked to drug trade, drug possession or drug use, or receiving money from illegal gambling or has done nothing to stop illegal gambling, specially jueteng, adding that “silence is consent”;
- convicted for a criminal offense as government officials must be “honourable”;
- who support black sand mining or tolerate irresponsible quarrying or illegal fish pens, stressing that nature “is our mother”;
- candidates, particularly those running for re-election, who have not done anything to uplift the plight of the poor.;
- who are giving money or distributing goods to voters during the campaign period, pointing out that vote-buying is prostitution;
- who have been involved or linked to terrorism or the use of goons for self protection within or outside the campaign period;
- candidates who show off religiosity only during the campaign period or is antagonistic to church teachings and practices because “corruption and hypocrisy are twins”; and
- candidates who are unfaithful to his or her spouse and children as corruption begins at home.
Lastly, Archbishop Soc said a candidate who has other members of his or her immediate family in government positions already must not be voted.
He explained that promoting family welfare and promoting the common good cannot mix.
“We submit these guidelines to you and plead with you to bring them to prayer. If Jesus would vote, for whom would he vote?,” he said.
He also called on the voter not to sell his or her vote because if he or she sells something that is sacred; “you make yourself a cousin of Judas too”. (PNA)
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