This is the separation of heart and the state (of mind) eating the very essence of our faith. The present political realities and patterns must be evaluated against the social realities and patterns designed by God of course from the perspective of their doctrines and teachings or interpretation of the scripture. How would a Catholic root or vote for a presidential candidate that cannot be trusted and dishonest in his educational achievements, for example?
I pray for my Catholic brethren who are pro-Marcos Jr. that they may be enlightened on this constitutional provision. The “Separation of Church and the State” is about mutual autonomy and the respect of that autonomy but rooted in cooperation from both the Church and the State for the common good and welfare. Is it good for the country to be led by an unrepentant or unapologizing sinner or a felon? It is for the common good and welfare if you vote for tax-evaders, liars, and grafters?
Are the Catholic Marcos-Duterte supporters feel good when their non-Catholic co-member in political partisan groups disrespect his or her church’s teachings and her priests, bishops, and nuns? As faithful laypeople, we have no other choice but to defend our faith and our ministers not only against those who trample democracy but even from de-orbited Catholics in our midst, in many religious organizations around us.
Reportedly, there are also Marcos-Duterte supporters both from the ranks of the lay and the clergy. They believe in lies spread by Marcos trolls that Pope Francis said that Marcos Jr. is "an intelligent leader" and that the Pope "hopes" Marcos wins the presidency in 2022. The post was published by a group called "POGINGSANDRO next generation MARCOS Pa rin," last November 9, 2021.
They also believe in the lie Marcos Sr. is the “highest scorer” in bar exam history without trying to verify the claim. This is one of the many Marcos lies because the fact is, it was former Supreme Court Associate Justice Florenz Regalado who still holds the record with a sterling score of 96.70%, not Marcos Sr.
Those who belong to mandated religious organizations, the faculty and students of diocesan schools, heads of the pastoral offices, and ministries such as church choirs, and Basic Ecclesial Communities or the Pamayanang Kristiyano, altar servers and other apostolates, those who run the diocesan radio and other social communication entities of the Church, etcetera. In this coming May 9 elections, our faith expects us not to vote for an unrepentant sinner and thief who refused to return their loots to the people. Unless Marcos Jr. shows remorse for his lies and his parents' wrongdoings, his association with known plunderers, his assertion for the unity of all would be nothing but a "noisy disorder" (Matt. 9-23).
Every lawyer in the province and elsewhere, Catholic or not, knows that the Separation of Church and the State” is strictly defined in the 1987 Constitution referring to two points ONLY: “1) that no religion may be established as the official religion of the State; 2) that the State may not favor one religion over others. At the same tie, if I may emphasize, the State shall forever allow the free exercise and enjoyment of religion and shall not require any religious test for the exercise of civil and political rights. It does not require division between belief and public action, moral principles, and political choices. Rather, the “Separation of Church and the State” protects the rights of believers and religious groups to practice their faith and act on their values in public life. This thing is called “Religious Freedom”, and it includes our moral stand of voting against a liar and a thief and supporting the candidate who animates your church’s values, teachings, or doctrines if there is such a candidate available on certain occasions.
I do not understand why the Marcos Jr. supporters from the ranks of the Catholics are also mum over the endorsement of certain cults and sects sponsoring bloc-voting without respecting and even mocking the individual voting preference of the priests, bishops, and nuns. Supporting him who is running for the presidency with no platforms, but carrying only his will to bring back his family to power, and who refuses to acknowledge the atrocities of his family is against the values of our faith.
We should never support a Martial law enabler, a tax evader, a thief, and a pathological liar. When Catholics, including the clergy, assert that the truth shall set us free but continues to support unrepentant and unapologizing liars, that’s very hypocritical if not downright un-Christian.
This coming May election, Catholics must remember first the 7th Commandment before voting for the 7th presidential candidate. Is that a coincidence? I do not know. All I know is Albert Einstein once said, "A coincidence is a small miracle when God chooses to remain anonymous. The 7th Commandment of God is, "You shall not steal" and Marcos Jr.'s ballot number is 7.
But if the Catholics, the laity, in particular, are going against lies and thievery by way of telling the truth and condemning felonies and crimes. By so doing, the members of the mandated religious organization, the BECs, the pastoral ministries are completely identifying themselves with Christ. In that manner, we are spreading the Word to the world.
The Jews who plotted to kill Jesus also claimed that they were likewise Abraham’s children or God’s chosen people (John 8), not unlike the assertion of the Marcos-Duterte diehard supporters of today, Jesus said to them brusquely, “You belong to your father, the devil…the father of lies.”
Christ could authoritatively and divinely echo those words today to the modern-day bigots and their supporters who want to get rid of His Truth by voting a liar.
Cum omni reverentia.
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(Photo: ABS-CBN News)
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