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Manila archbishop frowns on photo ops with politicians


Shortly before the start of the second wave of political campaigns next week, the head of the Catholic archdiocese of Manila has frowned on candidates’ attempts at using the Church for their campaign by donating money in exchange for photo opportunities, or endorsement. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales expressed his displeasure over offers to donate money by candidates who want to have their photos taken with priests. "That, we don’t like. That is not right," Rosales said in an article posted Friday on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site. He also called on priests to reject donations from politicians running for the May 10 elections who would ask for endorsement in return. Rosales also advised his priests that when in doubt, they should turn down financial aid from candidates and politicians, at least during the campaign period. Alay Kapwa The campaign period for national posts started February 9. The second wave, which marks the start of campaigning for local posts, will start on March 26. Rosales said that while it is hard for priests to detect if the money placed as contributions during Masses came from a politician or not, the donor giving money as a form of bribe to the priest "is not good." As for the donations for the Alay Kapwa, the church’s fund raising campaign program during Lent for its social projects, Rosales urged candidates to just directly give their financial help to charitable institutions in need. Campaign promises Meanwhile, CBCP head Nereo Odchimar urged candidates not to dupe the people with plans that are hard to fulfill. He said people need viable proposals and not mere electoral promises. "If candidates (in the past elections) only have the political will to comply with their promises, the Philippines would have been in a better position now," he said. He also called on the voters to be "vigilant" against sweet-tongued politicians and avoid falling prey to their false promises. "We have to be mature enough as voters. We have to be wise in our choice of candidates," he said. The CBCP head also noted that the country is passing through hard times "but then we must not lose hope." "One of the things that give us some vision of brighter future is the opportunity of this election year that there will be change of people in the executive branch and also the legislative," he added. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV

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