THE plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines opened in Cebu City on Friday with Pope Francis calling on Filipino bishops to seek “new ways” to proclaim the “wonder” of God’s mercy for all the people.
In a letter read to bishops by papal nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto, the Pope emphasized the need for the Church to spread God’s “enduring love” for everyone in order that this Jubilee Year of Mercy may truly be a time “to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become more effective sign of Father’s action in our lives.”
Around 98 cardinals and bishops gathered in Cebu City for the meeting which is expected to discuss the coming May 9 general elections as well as the 51st International Eucharistic Congress which will begin as the plenary assembly ends on Sunday.
CBCP president Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the CBCP were supposed to discuss the issue in their plenary assembly last July but deferred it for their January meeting.
And since the elections will be discussed, the CBCP is also expected to come out with a statement which will serve as guide to voters aside from the one that has been previously released.
Villegas said a Catholic cannot support a candidate who vows to wipe out religion from public life.
The Lingayen Dagupan prelate also urged the faithful not to choose candidates engaged in dirty tactics against their fellow candidates.
While there are no perfect candidates, Villegas said voters must opt for those who are willing to be better for the people.
The CBCP head reminded the faithful not to be too dependent on surveys and polls.
Catholics should be open-minded saying “there are worthy candidates from other Christian communities and other religions.”
The Catholic church is not in the practice of endorsing a candidate, Villegas said and urged the faithful to reject claims by candidates that they are candidates of the CBCP, or of a diocese, or of a particular bishop.
As bishops, he said, they commit to desist from any action or statement that may give the appearance of persuading the faithful to vote for a particular candidate.
Meanwhile, at least 12,000 Catholics from 71 countries are expected to attend the Eucharistic Congress with over three thousand people beating the registration deadline, organizers said.
Serving as an underpinning for the IEC was a theological symposium at the Cebu Doctors’ University with speakers chosen from a pool of renowned theologians and educators.
The topics have been chosen for their relevance to the theme of the IEC which is the centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life, the liturgical celebration and the social dimension of the Eucharist.
