Naming church enemies, dynasties

“Forgive your enemies but do not forget their names.”
-- John F. Kennedy

THE Catholic Church and anti-dynasty organizations share a common affliction: they can’t name those whom voters must reject in the May elections.

The Church has been bound by a long-held policy of not directly meddling in elections.

Bishops and priests have limited themselves to giving guidelines.

Speaking in parables, the clergy cannot identify those they’d probably wish to burn in hell for making the reproductive health bill become a law.

Their enemies, like the Harry Potter villain, they must not name.

There are attempts to inch closer. In Bacolod, a bishop reportedly has a list of politicians to “kill” (by the ballot, that is). In Mindanao, a church “vigilante group” using an activist priest’s influence sends a similar “death message” to Catholic voters.

As to when the Catholic bishops will finally speak of the unspeakable and give the names to parishioners, insiders aren’t telling.

Maybe never officially, only in ways presently being tried by church mavericks.

Which dragons

Organizations fighting against political dynasties cannot specify the clans and families, not out of fear but for lack of a consensus on what constitutes a dynasty.

Just as Congress hasn’t found moral courage to enforce a mandate in the Constitution, anti-dynasty NGOs still have to agree on which dynasty dragons to slay.

The Catholic Church and groups like MAD (Movement Against Dynasties) may rage during the campaign but might achieve little else.

[paseares@sunstar.com.ph]