CBCP: No Endorsement of Candidates

MANILA, Nov. 7, 2009-- With six months to go before the presidential elections, the Roman Catholic Church maintained it will not engage in partisan politics.

Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles gave this statement to erase any perception that the church will be open in showing its support to any candidate.

"I don't think we will endorse any person but we will endorse what he stands for. We need their platforms of government," he said.

According to him, the church always considers the effect of their action and throwing a support to a certain politician is expected to result in the division of the country.

The religious leader was earlier reported of mulling the possibility of supporting pro-life advocate and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza if ever he intends to run in the 2010 polls.

But Archbishop Arguelles denied the report and clarified that the Catholic hierarchy anywhere in the Philippines will not engage in partisan politics.

Archbishop Arguelles is the vice chairman of the Commission on Family and Life of the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The prelate added that voters should vote for a candidate, not because of his popularity, but based on his programs and in accordance with the teachings of the church.

"We will support pro-life programs. Let us vote for programs," he said. (Roy Lagarde)