Roperos: Faith and politics | Sun.Star

THOSE of us who, as a matter of professional attitude, stand at the center of the on-going political tussle over the so-called reproductive health (RH) bill have perforce to assume a measure of detachment, and view the overall condition with certain objectivity.

It is quite difficult for those who are members of the House or the Senate since they are expected to effect a personal stand. But even then, whether one is a die-hard Catholic or dyed-in-the-wool Christian, still the prevailing circumstance in a democracy is one of faith and politics.

There are people who believe they belong to an entirely independent social group, and are thus ?liberated? to make choices and undertake decisions in the matter of politics affecting their religious beliefs.

It is a matter of personal choice to consider one to be either a Catholic, a free-wheeling Christian, or one who stands at the center of the dilemma, keeping his personal stand to himself while looking at the whole matter as an issue decidedly separate from, and outside his objective stand as a professional member of the democratic society.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, who was once in Rome as close confidant of Pope Benedict XVI, said during his first Misa de Gallo that members of Congress who voted against the RH bill was doing future generations a favor during his homily. It was a way of saying to the lawmakers ?thank you.?

President Benigno Aquino III has certified the RH bill as urgent. Congress passed the bill three days earlier on second reading with a close 113-104 vote. It was up for third and final reading yesterday.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) over last weekend had made a final appeal to members of the Senate and the House ?to welcome Jesus with joy, His Word and Wisdom (and not just any human word of wisdom) is needed to form 'consciences.?? The CBCP feels that if the RH bill is approved, the moral fiber of the nation would be at risk.

Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, in his homily the other day, said that ?religion is about fulfilling the duty of everyman to his God and to his fellowmen so that laws should not be based on ?the whims of man.? For if laws are merely products of human will, then they are nothing but claims to power.?

In any case, the problem the CBCP faced was the matter of politics as a strong contender of the people?s faith. And the fact that those who stood for politics were themselves stalwarts of the faith.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 18, 2012.

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Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/opinion/2012/12/17/roperos-faith-and-politics-258869

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