Palace to religious leaders: Don't be self-righteous

Religious leaders seeking elective posts should shed their self-righteous stance and instead prepare to slug it out with other candidates in next year’s national elections, a Malacañang official said on Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar made the statement following the reported intentions of Jesus Is Lord leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde, and Catholic priest and Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio to run for president in 2010. "Umiwas po tayo sa pagiging self-righteous (We should not be self-righteous). We should be humble because we should be aware of our own imperfections," he said. He was reacting to the observation of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz that religious leaders are joining politics because of the “bad" governance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Olivar said the assessment is based on the assumptions that the religious leaders are better than politicians. Olivar said while priests and religious leaders have the right to run for elective posts, they should not delude the voters into thinking that they are better than politicians just because they come from the religious sector. "Huwag po sana nilang sabihin sa mamamayan na special na sila po ay mas magaling kaysa sa ibang kandidato dahil lamang po na sila ay pastor o pari (They should not tell the public that they’re better just because they’re from the religious sector)," he said. He also predicted that religious leaders would have a difficult time during the campaign period. "Good luck na lang po sa ating mga butihing men of the robe, men of the Church, sa pagpasok po sa ganito. Mahihirapan po sila. But of course, we wish them well like every other candidate na may mabuting plano at mabuting saloobin para sa mamamayan," he said. (We wish these men in robe and men of the Church luck in joining politics. It will not be easy for them.) - GMANews.TV