Political rules for priests: Archdiocese to issue guidelines this week

CEBU, Philippines - The Archdiocese of Cebu would release within the week its political guidelines for the 2016 elections, which include priests being discouraged from joining photo opportunities with politicians.

Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo said that once approved and signed by Archbishop Jose Palma, the set of guidelines, which has 15 key points, would be distributed to the different parishes under the archdiocese.

“One of the points is on the acceptance of masses or blessings related to political agenda or elections events. Mao nga ang pari mo-excuse sa iyang kaugalingon sa panahon nga mag-photo opportunity. Dili lang unta moapil ang pari during the picture taking aron dili ma-perceive nga ang simbahan ug ang pari dunay gidapigan bisan kinsa nga kandidato,” he said.

Villarojo said it is important for the church that priests should not be perceived and tagged as partisan.

He said the guidelines also include not allowing partisan activities inside the church, particularly on disallowing the presence of campaign materials inside the church and of candidates delivering speeches to the congregation.

Villarojo reiterated his appeal to those seeking political posts to keep partisan activities outside any church and away from the altar.

He likewise called on all political aspirants to respect and preserve the non-partisan nature and stand of the Ramon Catholic Church by not holding any political activities inside churches.

“It is better that they will not make any partisan moves inside any of our churches,” he said.

He clarified, though, that church leaders cannot judge priests who celebrated masses for politicians or any political party, explaining that there was yet no guidelines at the time these happened.

Told of a priest who was still around during a political event even after he had given his blessing to a political party in one of the restaurants in Cebu City, Villarojo said they cannot judge yet the priest involved.

“Dili ta makahukom sa pari unsa iyang hunahuna og wa molakaw dayon. Nganong molakaw man pud siya nga ang kalihokan kun diin giimbitar siya wa pa nahuman? Dili nagpasabot nga dugay nilakaw supporter na dayon siya sa pulitiko ug duna na siyay simpatiya,” Villarojo said.

“Looking forward to the future, based on the guidelines, human sa mass wala nay political speeches and overtly partisan acts diha sulod sa simbahan o unsa mang pagpadayag ug pagpakita og partisan acts,” he said.  (FREEMAN)