Priests “better not
be” pols: a Reflection on the Filipino Pastors's Sacrifice
By DEAN JOHNPAUL D.
MENCHAVEZ, dean.jpdm@gmail.com
November 21, 2012
Another Catholic priest was
suspended from his priestly duties after choosing politics over
priesthood. This time, Fr. Leo Casas, 37, chose to run for
governorship of Masbate in the 2013 elections than retain his divine
ministry.
In the Philippines, a
close-to-100-million populated nation, almost 90 percent Catholics,
the debate is endless when the topic is about the role of the Pastors
in society. In 1986 and in 2001, our young democracy peacefully
toppled the head of the government through massive and united protest
both in the same famous avenue (EDSA), both well-orchestrated, and
both successful. And both with key interventions of the Hierarchy.
In 2007, the Inquirer
Filipino of the year prize was given to a priest, Ed Panlilio, who
left the ministry to engage in politics. He successfully won the
gubernatorial elections. In fairness perhaps the merit cannot be taken
away from the former Governor, as Inquirer later on justified, because
of his “embodiment of hope where despair is deepest – politics.” “…he
threw his social worker’s hat (and his parish priest’s soutane),
looking for alternatives without finding one, and offering himself,
suspending his priestly faculties, an almost impossible sacrifice.”
But then again, were the kudos meant to be generalized, encouraging
“Catholic priests and bishops to follow in the footsteps”?
Is the “sacrifice” worth it?
Is it justified to take that leave? In the end, on a personal basis,
it is really God’s judgment. But God left marks so that we could
objectively respond to the question. In a country where the line that
divides Church and State is blurry, extreme prudence is necessary.
Some clergymen readily generalize accusing the laity of being
unprepared to take up the burden of leadership in political life. I
find this a slap in the face to the Filipino Christians, majority of
which are lay, and non-Christians alike.
Certainly the bottom-line is
the lack of awareness of the role of priests in the Church, in
society, in the world. The media, and perhaps the majority, may not
completely understand, but that does not make it far from the truth.
Indeed, what is at stake is communion inside the Church. There are
strong arguments for priests to remain where they are, for the good of
society, for the greater good of souls in their parish and the entire
human race. For one, in world history, the sad case of liberation
theology in Latin America that induced more poverty is enlightening.
Secondly, a man with the minimum of Faith may consider, for example,
that the Fatherly confessional advice that only they themselves have
the grace to administer is certainly a medicine both spiritual and
divine. Or better yet, the transcendence of that Sacrifice (the Mass)
that only they could offer the Almighty is of incomparable importance.
The respect for these “men
of God” cannot be separated from their ministry. They have become
“famous” perhaps because of their holiness, or their charisma speaking
from the pulpit, and not political experience. That is why once they
go overboard; it always is a scandal on a grand scale. If they use
this “respect” to win votes… no matter how good the purpose is, it
almost always ends badly (for everyone).
The Congregation of the
Clergy, a department of the Roman Curia, emphasizes that “like Jesus,
the priest ought to refrain from actively engaging himself in
politics, as it often happens, in order to be a central point of
spiritual fraternity. All the faithful, therefore, must always be able
to approach the priest without feeling inhibited for any reason. The
priest will remember that it does not fall on the shoulders of the
Pastors of the Church to intervene directly in political activities
and in social organisations. This task, in fact, forms part of the lay
faithful vocation, in which they work by their own initiative together
with their fellow citizens. Nevertheless, he will not be absent in the
effort to form in them an upright conscience.” That succinctly
translates to an indirect but nevertheless active role in the fight
for justice through the formation of conscience. And if you think this
is insignificant, think again.
Filipinos need holy and
faithful priests (faithful to God, faithful to the Vicar of Christ –
the Pope, faithful to their Bishop, faithful to their vocation), and
the country needs the active involvement in public life of well-formed
Christian lay people. Priests better not be pols, because they were
not meant for it. Priests better not be pols because they serve for
the salvation of souls, working on another plane--the supernatural.
Priests better not be pols to be able to attend to the needs of
everyone, of whatever color, age, race or political background.
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[The author is soon to defend his doctorate thesis in Canon Law in the
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He also holds a
Bachelor of Sacred Theology Degree in the University of Navarre, and a
Master of Science in Industrial Economics, Bachelor of Arts in
Humanities-Liberal Arts from the University of Asia & the Pacific,
Philippines. He has been a Marist student, a bank's management
trainee, a university's professor and secretary, and a free-lance
journalist. He currently resides in Spain.]