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| Political education and electoral reform
campaign launched by the Diocese of
Naval By Lanie Pitao-Tupaz PIA-Biliran Naval, Biliran (7 March) - The Diocese of Naval under the religious leadership of the Most Reverend Filomeno G. Bactol launched the political education and electoral reform campaign yesterday at the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in preparation for the coming national and local elections in May, this year. To instill in the minds of our people the sanctity of the ballot, the political education and electoral reform campaign carries the theme �Balota ko Sagrado� with an entailing slogan �No to Vote�Buying, No to Vote-Selling�. The launching which started with a mass and a parade around the town of Naval was attended by the members of the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) and other religious organizations of the Diocese of Naval, and students from the Cathedral School of La Naval. For those in attendance to hear opinions other than local religious leaders, Fr. Jose Cecilio J. Magadia �Fr. Jojo� to his close friends, SJ, from Manila was invited to talk on selected topics as guiding principles in the electoral processes. The topics discussed by Fr. Jojo were on �Ang Pagtulun-an sa Simbahan Mahitungod sa Politika, Cha-Cha, ug Eleksyon� and �Balota Ko SAgrado: No To Vote-Buying, No To Vote-Selling�. After the discussion of the selected topics, the participants asked their questions during the open forum. Since Fr. Jojo is not from the the province of Biliran and is not familiar with the political atmosphere of the province, his answers were purely based on the neutral ground. When asked if the church can assure non-engagement of its faithful particularly its laymen from vote-buying and vote selling, Fr. Jojo gave no assurance. He said that the church cannot monitor the activities of its faithful and laymen on election day but rather the church can assure to minimize their participation in vote-buying and vote-selling by massive voters� education campaign. He said that the church must not endorse any political party or candidate. It has to let its people vote through their conscience. Priests who engage themselves in partisan politics should be suspended from their ministry, Fr. Jojo added. To enlighten the parishioners and its people, a pastoral letter from the Diocese of Naval was handed to the parish priests from 14 parishes of the diocese. The Diocese of Naval is composed of the parishes of Naval; Almeria; Kawayan; Culaba; Caibiran; Cabucgayan; Biliran; Maripipi; Leyte, Leyte; Calubian; San Isidro; Tabango; Lucsoon in the municipality of Naval; and Villalon in the municipality of Calubian. (PIA Biliran) |
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Bishop urges active participation for
clean,
credible and peaceful elections By Rodrigo S. Victoria PIA, Biliran Naval, Biliran (7 March) � In a pastoral letter issued by Bishop Filomeno G. Bactol, D.D., of the Diocese of Naval during the political education and electoral reform campaign held yesterday at the Naval Cathedral, the call for an active participation of the people and church groups especially the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), an active religious organization in the Diocese of Naval, for a clean, credible and peaceful elections is one big concern that forms part of the letter. In the pastoral letter, Bishop Bactol enumerated three important steps for the voters in the May 14, 2007 elections. Bishop Bactol stated in his pastoral letter that the three steps include voter�s education, poll watching and parallel vote count. The head of the Naval diocese also urged all Christians not to receive money this coming elections and not to give service to candidates who use guns, goons and gold. He likewise made a heartily appeal in his pastoral letter to all candidates not to give money to the people just to get their votes and not to use electoral means that would lessen the dignity of the people. Bishop Bactol further urged everybody to be united including the candidates, voters and all Christian for a concerted effort for a change in the political and electoral processes through a continued reflections of events and issues around that need deep and truthful inquiry. �The events we encounter everyday cannot be denied to inflict wound in our faith like graft and corruption, political dynasty, poverty, environmental destruction, dirty elections and others,� Bishop Bactol said in his pastoral letter. He added in his pastoral letter for everybody to reflect the events that happened and bring Christ in the center of those reflections and to put Christ and morality in the field of politics and elections because it is there that we can make a true peaceful and fruitful change in our Christian communities. He also reminded the people to offer to God all these efforts for a new future and ask the divine intercession of the Most Holy Rosary, the patroness of the diocese, for continued guidance and keep everyone from harm in this hour of big trial. The pastoral letter was given to the parish priests and BEC leaders of the 14 parishes under the Diocese of Naval. (PIA-Biliran) |
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