Tuesday, November 04, 2008 Local Catholics pray for McCain
ON the eve of the American elections, about 50 Catholics lit candles and prayed the rosary in a move to “destroy the anti-life forces”.
But even as leaders of Marian movements and church-mandated organizations prayed in support of what they described as “pro-life” American candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin last night, some church-goers admitted they just joined the group to pray the rosary without knowing politics was involved.
The group was led by Rene Josef Bullecer of Human Life International, with the consent of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
But while Vidal consented to the candlelight rosary held at the Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral last night, Bullecer admitted that there are bishops in the Philippines who remain neutral about the debate between pro-life and pro-choice advocates for fear of dipping their hands into “anything political.”
But what happens in the US will likely happen here, said Ethel Visitacion, a member of the basic ecclesiastical community of the Lady of Lourdes parish.
“Kung unsa’y mahibato didto, apektado ang kalibutan (Whatever happens in the US will affect the rest of the world),” Visitacion said after lighting candles and saying prayers last night.
“Have mercy on America and on the whole world,” was one of the prayers that Bullecer led the people in saying.
McCain’s and Palin’s rivals for the presidential and vice-presidential seat, respectively, are candidates Barack Obama and Joseph Biden.
McCain and Obama differ on policies regarding abortion on demand, partial-birth abortion ban, protecting abortion survivors, taxpayer funding of abortion and the parent notification law.
The group that prayed at the grotto outside the Cathedral last night “invoked the souls of all aborted babies” and sought the end of abortion, gay marriages and divorce.
As the group gathered on the eve of US elections, Catholics in parts of the United States (US) and South America did likewise, said Bullecer. This was upon the request of the US Catholic bishops.
Catholics make up 28% of the American voting population, a sector that was responsible for putting US president George Bush in the White House for two terms, according to Catholic bishops in the US.
Bush suspended the US’ annual $45 million support to the United Nations because he knew it would be used for pro-abortion campaigns, Bullecer said.
He added that a rosary rally will be held on Nov. 10, the day that congress in the Philippines resumes its hearing on House Bill 5043 or the Reproductive Health Bill. (KAB)
