THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has released a prayer calling for peaceful, free and honest elections in 2022.
In a circular issued on Thursday but released only on Friday, CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles said the prayer will be launched on November 28, the first Sunday of Advent.
Adopted from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), the “Prayer for 2022 Elections” focuses on the 16 values enshrined in the preamble of the Constitution.
The PPCRV, a church-based election watchdog, earlier asked the CBCP to endorse its “Prayer Power Campaign” by asking the public to collectively pray for peaceful, credible and transparent polls next year.
The prayer for the 2022 elections will be recited every first and third Sunday of the month.
“It is suggested that it be said after the post-communion prayer of the Mass,” Valles said.
The Catholic bishops have also called on the electorate to elect only trustworthy candidates.
Incoming CBCP president Bishop Virgilio David of Kalookan said while praying for good candidates is important, it is “not enough” [if not put into action by electing trustworthy candidates].
Politics, according to David, is an essential component of nation-building and as such, voters should seriously put to good use their right of suffrage.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, former head of the CBCP, warned the electorate against dirty politicians who this early are already resorting to “vote buying.”
“Vote buying is a mark of the devil. It puts a price on the person of the voter,” Villegas said as he called on the voters to help end vote buying by not selling their votes.
Villegas added that the practice destroys the heart of democracy and the people who make up the nation.
Cardinal Jose Advincula, the archbishop of Manila, urged the electorate to vote only for candidates with proven integrity.
“We pray that there will be a deep assessment of the programs and platforms of every candidate, as well as their track records,” Advincula said over Radio Veritas.
One thing to do, according to him, is to form “circles of discernment” among lay people to guide them in their choice of political candidates.
He said it is imperative for voters to deeply discern as a community the characteristics and track record of each aspirant.
The cardinal encouraged voters to consider the position of candidates regarding respect for human dignity, common good, social justice and societal charity.
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