Choosing a candidate? Heed Ten Commandments, says Philippine prelate
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=130207&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
IMAGE: CNS photo/Rolex Dela Pena, EPABy Simone OrendainMANILA,Philippines (CNS) -- A Philippine archbishop is urging Catholics to heedthe Ten Commandments before they head to the polls in May to vote for officesranging from president to local village councilors. ArchbishopSocrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, who is also president of the Philippinebishops' conference, said in a pastoral letter to the faithful in hisarchdiocese if they need help "assessing the worthiness" of candidates, theyshould "use the age old standard set by our Judeo-Christian tradition -- theTen Commandments."ArchbishopVillegas listed all 10, with descriptions of how they apply to pickingcandidates. He particularly hit on some long-running issues: corruption and thepersistence of political dynasties."Howdoes the candidate show filial piety to elders? How does the candidate safeguardfamily life, the protection of children and the elderly and frail familymembers?" he asked, saying that a candidate who failed at...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Rolex Dela Pena, EPA
By Simone Orendain
MANILA,
Philippines (CNS) -- A Philippine archbishop is urging Catholics to heed
the Ten Commandments before they head to the polls in May to vote for offices
ranging from president to local village councilors.
Archbishop
Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, who is also president of the Philippine
bishops' conference, said in a pastoral letter to the faithful in his
archdiocese if they need help "assessing the worthiness" of candidates, they
should "use the age old standard set by our Judeo-Christian tradition -- the
Ten Commandments."
Archbishop
Villegas listed all 10, with descriptions of how they apply to picking
candidates. He particularly hit on some long-running issues: corruption and the
persistence of political dynasties.
"How
does the candidate show filial piety to elders? How does the candidate safeguard
family life, the protection of children and the elderly and frail family
members?" he asked, saying that a candidate who failed at the commandment on
honoring one's parents could "harm the basic unit of society -- the family."
Under
this commandment, the archbishop also warned against voting for candidates
whose families had held the same positions before them, since this would
"perpetrate the family's hold on public office."
Philippine
lawmakers have repeatedly failed to pass anti-political dynasty measures
because a significant majority of them have relatives in politics or are
offspring of public officials, while others come from generations of
politicians.
Archbishop
Villegas highlighted certain pitfalls in calling attention to the commandment
against stealing. He implored the faithful to look into a candidates' records
in dealing with banks and insurance firms, big business contracts and whether
they faced corruption investigations.
Also
under the commandment regarding stealing, the archbishop reminded Catholics
that neglecting the "environment is robbing future generations of a clean and
beautiful land."
Archbishop
Villegas told the faithful to "see the different forms of lying,"
especially during the campaign period.
In
the letter, the archbishop said, "Be careful in choosing leaders. I say it
again -- be careful" that Catholic voters do not simply choose who has good
polling numbers
"Be
free from the tyranny and pressure of trends and herds. Do it right. Choose
what is right according to the Ten Commandments," said Archbishop Villegas.
One
presidential candidate who has consistently polled in the top three of national
surveys is currently facing corruption inquiries. But this same candidate
opposed a controversial reproductive health law, which includes a provision for
government-funded contraception for the poor -- something the church also strongly
opposed. Another top-three candidate, a mayor of a major Philippine city, has
boasted of cleaning up crime by killing criminals.
- - -
Copyright © 2016 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275400&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
null / ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 25, 2024 / 10:52 am (CNA).Following a recent Vatican declaration on human dignity, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales condemned medical and social transgenderism while encouraging a "sensitive" response in a pastoral reflection released on Wednesday.The Vatican's doctrinal office came down strongly against gender ideology, stating that "all attempts to obscure reference to the ineliminable sexual difference between man and woman are to be rejected."The Catholic bishops of England and Wales followed the Vatican's lead in their April 24 statement, "Intricately Woven by the Lord," which encouraged rooting pastoral care in "acceptance … of the body as created." "We cannot encourage or give support to reconstructive or drug-based medical intervention that harms the body," they wrote. "Nor can we legitimize or uphold a way of living that is not respectful of the truth and vocation of each man and each woman, called to ...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275399&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
null / ShutterstockCNA Staff, Apr 25, 2024 / 11:30 am (CNA).Louisiana State Police have obtained a new search warrant to collect documents from the Archdiocese of New Orleans as part of an ongoing investigation into Church abuse in that state.State police spokesman Jacob Pucheu confirmed to CNA on Thursday that the bureau had obtained the warrant as part of its investigation into "numerous complaints of child sexual abuse" leveled at the archdiocese. The inquiry was first launched in 2022, he said."As part of the ongoing investigation, on Monday, April 22, 2024, SVU investigators obtained an additional search warrant to collect information and documents from the Archdiocese of New Orleans," Pucheu told CNA."The archdiocese is cooperating with investigators to fulfill the terms of the search warrant," he said. "This investigation remains ongoing with no further information available at this time."Pucheu declined to directly provide a copy of the warrant, saying that "since it is...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275395&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Pope Francis speaks to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Sept. 25, 2015. / L'Osservatore Romano.Rome Newsroom, Apr 25, 2024 / 07:22 am (CNA).Pope Francis is reportedly considering returning to the United States in September to speak before the United Nations General Assembly.The news was initially reported by the French Catholic newspaper La Croix and has not yet been officially confirmed by the Vatican. A source from the Vatican Secretariat of State, meanwhile, told CNA this week that "a formal invitation has arrived from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Pope Francis seems inclined to respond positively."If the New York trip occurs, the pope would visit the United Nations during its "Summit of the Future," which the international body will convene from Sept. 22 to 23.The possible trip to the United States could change the pope's already-busy September travel schedule. The Holy See Press Office has announced that Pope Francis will be in Indonesia...