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BISHOP
MEDROSO:
"Involvement in politics imperative for
Christians"
By: KIT BAGAIPO
MEDROSO |
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Bishop
Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran exhorts
the active participation of society in political affairs
of the nation while issuing a strong warning to members
of the clergy and the religious not to engage in partisan
politics.
Medroso,
who spoke during the induction of officers of the Bohol
Tri-Media Association (BTMA) at Island City Mall last
Sunday, said a direct involvement of the Church can
be done through involvement of the lay people in politics
that is within the sphere of Christian values and conscience.
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The
prelate said the existence of graft and corruption in government
and being listed among ten most corrupt nations in the world
is the "most urgent reason" for the public and the
Church to actively participate in politics.
According
to the prelate, the community should lead in the renewal of
politics in the country which is currently perceived more
of an obstacle for development rather than an integral vehicle
towards it.
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The
urgent reason for the citizenry to be more involved
in political matters, according to Medroso, is the need
to strike a balance on the evolution of civil society
with a pluralistic mentality which eventually leads
to cultural relativism.
"In
the name of freedom the promoters of this tendency envision
a system that govern the acts and behaviour of man.
This system oftentimes runs counter to the standard
of natural ethics and sound morality," Medroso
said.
Ethical
pluralism, according to the bishop, "sanctions
the decadence of the principles of natural moral law
and teaches the citizens autonomy with regards to moral
choices that they make."
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He
said that ethical pluralism also "facilitates lawmakers
to enact laws that are oftentimes unethical and even immoral
in the pretext that they are just respecting the freedom of
choices of the citizenry."
Quoting
a doctrinal note, Medroso stressed that "Democracy must
be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable
ethical principles" which are the foundations of life
in society.
According
to Medroso, here in the Philippines, the participation of
the Church in politics is "active, vocal and visible."
Not
only is the Church involved in the political but also the
socio-economic affairs of the nation, Medroso said.
Medroso
said the effects of graft and corruption is "tragic to
the citizenry, for our system of governance, our values, our
morality and the plight of the poor and the needy."
He
said the way politics is practiced in our country is "most
hurtful" to us as a people.
"It is possibly the biggest bane in our life as a nation
and the most pernicious obstacle to our achieving of full
human development," Medroso said.
The
Tagbilaran Diocese prelate said that support from all levels
of society is summoned for political renewal.
The
call for political participation and renewal does not necessarily
mean that the Church should support a candidate or political
party since this will violate the Canon Law which explicitly
prohibits the Church in siding with political parties, "with
its wheeling and dealing, compromises, confrontational and
adversarial positions."
The
clergy and religious are considered the symbols of unity,"
Medroso said.
However,
the bishop said that there are "questions" that
challenge the Church's position, such as "the necessity
of exposing corrupt candidates done by the clergy; playing
an active role in politics; posting by the clergy a rooster
of good candidates… and up to what extent does the Church
guide the laity during election without playing partisan politics?"
"Messy
questions no doubt, but to be asked nonetheless," Medroso
concluded.
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