Vox Bikol

MANILA, March 11, 2010-In the face of slowly rising politics in the pulpit, Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar warned the clergy of his diocese against overtly partisan preaching.

As Election Day approaches, with local and national positions up for grabs, Odchimar has sent a circular to all priests and religious of the Diocese of Tandag not to express support for political candidates.

The circular warns explicitly the church's role of becoming instrument for unity could be at risk if the rule is violated.

Odchimar, currently the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said that under Canon Law, clerics are forbidden from playing "an active role in political parties."

He said the Church has clearly defined laws for priest in dealing with partisanship and politics.

The soft-spoken prelate also cautioned priests against candidates' "political gimmicks involving church leaders and other people whom they think are effective and capable of doing such."

Odchimar, a Canon lawyer, advised fellow pastors to mind what they say or do, and make sure they will not be misunderstood.

Odchimar issued his circular yesterday after at least six bishops earlier expressed support for the presidential bid of John Carlos 'JC' de los Reyes and other Ang Kapatiran party bets.

The prelates, among them were Lipa Arbishop Ramon Arguelles and Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, have publicly endorsed the candidates of Ang Kapatiran.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) only goes to the extent of issuing pastoral statements and voters' guidelines to help voters discern the right candidates.

The CBCP head said priests can only break the non-partisanship rule when a political figure or group opposes divine laws and principles.

But as far the Diocese of Tandag is concerned, the situation does not require the Church to engage in partisan politics.

"In our prudent discernment, concrete situation in the diocese does not warrant a justifiable deviation from this general principle," said Odchimar.

While priests are discouraged to actively take part in partisan politics, the Church must not abandon its competence in passing moral judgment, Odchimar added.

In other words, he also said, while the lay faithful are urged to engage in political activity, pastors can teach moral principles and issue moral guidelines regarding political activity but cannot engage in public politics.

"It must be admitted, though, that sometimes even teaching moral principles is actually interpreted by some as partisan politics because of actual circumstances; nonetheless we have to contend ourselves with it," Odchimar said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)