7/30/2019 Pastoral Statement of the Diocese of Kidapawan on the May 2013 Elections.pdf

1/1

Pastoral Statement of the Diocese of Kidapawan on the May 2013 Elections

MY dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last April 8, 2013, the priests of the Diocese of Kidapawan and I met and agreed to come out with a pastoral

statement clarifying what our position is on the so- called Catholic Vote, which has since been re-named by the

lay organizers as Solidarity Vote Movement (SVM).

Similar to the movements in Manila, Cebu and other parts of the country, our lay leaders are in the process of

planning and discerning, for the May 13 elections and to come up with a list of candidates, on the national level

who are closest to our criteria of being pro - God, pro - Life and pro Family.The Lay Initiative for Elections 2013

or LIFE 2013 in Cebu have come up with their own list of senatorial and party-list candidates that they are

endorsing. El Shaddai Manila as well as Solidarity Vote Movement Manila, have done likewise. Those are all lay

initiatives, and we as Church leaders have no objections to the efforts that endeavor to provide informative

guidance based on Catholic, Christian principles. We are happy that our laity today are putting into concrete

actions their responsibilities as baptized Christians and Members of the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ.

Their efforts at objectively measuring local and national candidates according to the standards of the Gospel, and

the moral principles taught by the Church, together with Filipino values that respect life, family and the

environment, deserve not our objection but our endorsement.

Hence, we support our lay leaders decision to seek the election of those candidates who are closest to the

Catholic and Christian ideals of leadership. We hope the public declaration of our lay leaders choices will result in

more votes cast this coming election, will stand of God, for life and for family and environment.

This movement can act as an enabling facility to judge candidates based on objective Christian criteria, not on the

often- abused criteria of friendship and relationship with candidates by virtue of blood and affection. This

movement likewise provides the concrete opportunity to communally examine each incumbent candidates record

of accomplishments and performance history. Needless to say, this movement provides a concrete way of

examining who, among those running for office have and will truly serve the people.

Let us always respect each others freedom to vote. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit does not cease to enlighten our

conscience. Let us strive to hold an election that is clean, orderly and peaceful.

Truly Yours in Christ Jesus,

MOST REV. ROMULO T. DELA CRUZ, D.D.

Bishop of Kidapawan

May 5. 2013