Maulion: Breakthrough

IT’S heartwarming to note that finally, the Catholic Church through the CBCP is breaking tradition and come out from its own shelf. This development came after four Catholic Bishops openly declared officially their support for Ang Kapatiran Presidential bid of JC de los Reyes, and presumably the entire party’s slate.

True, there is no such thing as solid Catholic vote in the country. But the conscience votes the Bishops would like to muster among intelligent Catholic voters is not farfetched, especially that JC de los Reyes is pushing for pro-development platforms and rallying issues identified with the Church. And that’s great as he’s consistently staging that crusade in his official capacity as Presidential candidate. He might not make it as he’s young and doesn’t have that much supporter as shown by surveys. But that is the most important thing there for a politician to do, making his statement clear and strong, prompting the Catholic Church to engage in reality check where it stands.

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That JC de los Reyes said in all honesty, conviction and sincerity in itself is great relief. Now is the time to draw the battle lines. You’re either consistent with your stand or simply supporting the theology of liberation in pulpit only.

Gone indeed are the days when the ordinary Catholics are misguided and left in the dark with the usual tentative “Nanginlabot, dili panghilabot” stance of the Catholic clergy. Now is the time to come out in the open and complete the message far better than noodles and sardines homily from a Father Damaso.

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On another note, Ang Kapatiran party members are oozing with talents. Manny Valduesa is one among them, and definitely not selecting him and the rest of the slate is a mistake any intelligent Catholic voters could not afford to commit.

How short is our memory! The war has been drawn many decades ago among different Church denominations, each reaching out and actively participating in the political arena.

There’s Iglesia Ni Kristo whose one vote by any Elder Manalo commands a million of supporters. Don’t toe the line and risk excommunication. Be of one mind, the elder reminded his flock, quoting from St. Paul. And so there they go, voting as instructed.

I personally detest such exercise back then but have recently come to realize the beauty of block voting, as practiced by INC: Get nominees from people and subject them to elimination based on established guidelines.

Thus, what a miracle and historic event these six Catholic Bishops did.

Unfortunately, three Bishops this column would like to see have not significantly committed yet their stand. I’m referring to the CBCP Chairman and Vice Chairman Bp. Jose Palma of Tacloban, actually my mentor back then at St. Joseph Regional Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Third of course, is our own Bp. Antonio Ledesma, who I would like to hear his clincher as he seems to drumbeat of possible Catholic votes as featured in one local daily then.

We’re talking here of weeks not months, as the editor of this paper reminded me. I agree. They better decide now or loss that precious opportunity.