MANILA, March 17, 2010—Catholic bishops vowed never to receive donations from politicians who are running in the May 10 elections.
Bishops Martin Jumoad of Basilan, Carlito Cenzon of Baguio and Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel are one in saying that they will decline any donations from politicians.
Jumoad said it’s not proper for the church to accept financial donations from political bets at the height of the campaign period. [Sense of propriety. Very rare these days.]
“I will not accept any donations especially from politicians. It’s not right,” said Jumoad over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
According to Cenzon and Gutierrez, it’s not prudent for the church to be accepting money from politicians who are seeking various government posts.
“We are not going to accept it especially if we know that it came from bad sources,” Cenzon said.
The three bishops made the statement Wednesday as the Catholic Church prepares for the nationwide celebration of “Alay Kapwa” on March 28.
Alay Kapwa is a fund raising campaign program during the Lenten season for the purpose of helping the needy during emergency cases and calamities.
The campaign is implemented in all dioceses and requires the Catholic faithful to share their resources, time and talent with their neighbors.
Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu earlier admitted, however, of receiving cash donations from the some politicians who asked for his blessings. [Uh-oh.]
But the cardinal clarified that the financial contributions he accepted were for Caritas, the Church’s social action arm, and not for his personal account.
He also emphasized that he does not endorse candidates, saying he’s preserving his non-partisan status.
Jumoad called on politicians to donate their money directly their money to other charitable institutions.
“I challenge them. If they are really sincere in being one with the Church’s Alay Kapwa (program), they should give help directly to those who are needy,” he said.
Alay Kapwa, the Mindanao bishop said, is a sacred program of the Church for the poor. “They should realize that,” he added.
“I am appealing also to our politicians not to use Alay Kapwa to make it appear that they are for the poor,” Jumoad said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)
***
Here's what I know.
Three bishops from the south whose neutrality with this presidency has been in question since they have been recipients of a lot of development projects. I know personally know the three.
Here in the capital, a mayor gave ALL priests of a diocese custom made chalices with matching patens as a "gift for the Year of the Priest." Sense of propriety? I think he does not have those. It's election season and he is fighting hard to stay in power even fielding his own son for a second run as...[I'll stop. I'll be giving away too much.] The mayor is being ganged up by big names in politics of the city who were once in power.
My take?
Hope all priests and bishops be like Bishops Martin Jumoad of Basilan, Carlito Cenzon of Baguio and Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel.
Just say no!
Bishops Martin Jumoad of Basilan, Carlito Cenzon of Baguio and Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel are one in saying that they will decline any donations from politicians.
Jumoad said it’s not proper for the church to accept financial donations from political bets at the height of the campaign period. [Sense of propriety. Very rare these days.]
“I will not accept any donations especially from politicians. It’s not right,” said Jumoad over Church-run Radyo Veritas.
According to Cenzon and Gutierrez, it’s not prudent for the church to be accepting money from politicians who are seeking various government posts.
“We are not going to accept it especially if we know that it came from bad sources,” Cenzon said.
The three bishops made the statement Wednesday as the Catholic Church prepares for the nationwide celebration of “Alay Kapwa” on March 28.
Alay Kapwa is a fund raising campaign program during the Lenten season for the purpose of helping the needy during emergency cases and calamities.
The campaign is implemented in all dioceses and requires the Catholic faithful to share their resources, time and talent with their neighbors.
Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu earlier admitted, however, of receiving cash donations from the some politicians who asked for his blessings. [Uh-oh.]
But the cardinal clarified that the financial contributions he accepted were for Caritas, the Church’s social action arm, and not for his personal account.
He also emphasized that he does not endorse candidates, saying he’s preserving his non-partisan status.
Jumoad called on politicians to donate their money directly their money to other charitable institutions.
“I challenge them. If they are really sincere in being one with the Church’s Alay Kapwa (program), they should give help directly to those who are needy,” he said.
Alay Kapwa, the Mindanao bishop said, is a sacred program of the Church for the poor. “They should realize that,” he added.
“I am appealing also to our politicians not to use Alay Kapwa to make it appear that they are for the poor,” Jumoad said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)
***
Here's what I know.
Three bishops from the south whose neutrality with this presidency has been in question since they have been recipients of a lot of development projects. I know personally know the three.
Here in the capital, a mayor gave ALL priests of a diocese custom made chalices with matching patens as a "gift for the Year of the Priest." Sense of propriety? I think he does not have those. It's election season and he is fighting hard to stay in power even fielding his own son for a second run as...[I'll stop. I'll be giving away too much.] The mayor is being ganged up by big names in politics of the city who were once in power.
My take?
Hope all priests and bishops be like Bishops Martin Jumoad of Basilan, Carlito Cenzon of Baguio and Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel.
Just say no!
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