Gov. Ed Panlilio- a politician of God's words

Gov. Ed Panlilio- a politician of God's words

Please allow me to react on the article “Leave priesthood first, Panlilio told” (PDI March 23). The article said “Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio should leave the priesthood if he were to further his political career by running for president in 2010.” This reminds us of Pope John Paul who insisted that the canon law forbids the priests "to assume public offices that involve ... the exercise of civil power."

I find this very disturbing. Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council, 1991 (PCP-II) says that priests, religious men and women, and lay people, i.e., the Church “must involved in the area of politics when Gospel values are at stake.” Then why ask Gov. Panlilio to renounce his priesthood when he could be instrumental and in a better position as a priest in renewing the political landscape of this country according to the Gospel values?

There is no doubt priests must uphold the teachings of the Church. In the past, many of them have played their roles as moral guardians especially during election period. While it is true that they should not involve themselves in partisan politics they should not also be indifferent with their duties to provide the moral compass for the people to elect only those candidates who uphold the teachings and ethos of the Catholic Church.

They have done this for the nth time. They have taken seriously their moral and political duty to guide the flock in electing those who are authentic Christians to become public servants. They do this because they are cognizant of the fact that there are many politicians who are being Pharisaical in calling themselves as Christians. However, their efforts are in vain. Most of our people are stubborn and they do not listen to the admonitions of our priests. Our people still elect devious politicians who do not care for the needs of our countrymen and ignore the teachings of the Church. And as a consequence, these ruthless politicians do not only bring ruin and scandal in the government but also to the Church.

Shall we allow this to happen again come 2010 elections? Must we in this country render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s perpetually? Must we allow our lives to be shortchanged by the politicians who think nothing but their own self-interest? Must we allow these elected leaders to continue making a mockery of the Church and do things that run counter to the Gospel values?

Let me describe Panlilio as a politician of God’s words. He brings the Gospel values in governance. He witnesses the Gospel values in politics. He evangelizes our political culture and intersperses it with the teachings of the Church.

When he as a priest was allowed to run for the governorship, what should prohibit him to run for the presidency?