MANILA (UCAN): On 9 May 2022, the people of the Philippines will choose their next leaders, with the main focus on who will succeed controversial incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte.
Catholic dioceses in the country began a “prayer power campaign” for clean and orderly elections on November 28. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines [CBCP] urged people to recite the prayer and offer intentions for “peaceful, credible and transparent” national and local elections.
A lay group, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, asked the CBCP to endorse a campaign asking the public to collectively pray for the election.
“They requested the body [bishops’ conference] to enjoin all parishes, shrines and chapels in the country to pray the Prayer for 2022 Elections prepared by Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas in all our Sunday Masses,” said CBCP president, Archbishop Romulo Valles, in his letter.
Archbishop Valles said the prayer was based on the 16 values enshrined in the Philippine constitution such as the respect for creation and human dignity.
“Shepherd of souls and Saviour of the nations, politics is your gift to us, a call to serve others and grow in holiness. Guide our politics as you guide our lives,” the prayer says.
The bishops requested the people recite the prayer twice a month after communion as a reminder that being Catholic did not stop at receiving communion at Mass.
“I personally find it meaningful to pray for the country after receiving communion. After all, being Christian does not end after the Mass—it must translate to casting votes. Our votes reflect our values as a people,” a lay minister in Manila, Christopher Lazaro, remarked.
Lazaro said clergy should be “more aggressive” in leading Catholics in choosing the right leaders for the country.
As we celebrate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Chaplaincy to Filipino Migrants organises an on-line talk every Tuesday at 9.00pm. You can join us at:
https://www.Facebook.com/CFM-Gifted-to-give-101039001847033
“Our bishops and priests may not be allowed to engage in partisan politics but at least they could give guidelines to form the conscience of the electorate. Conscience formation is very important,” Lazaro added.
Parishes are also displaying the prayer on their premises so that people will be reminded every time they visit the church.
Another churchgoer in Quezon City, Douglas Ventura, said the prayer’s focus on the poor should be highlighted because the elections were for them.
“I found the line in the prayer—that human dignity may be respected all the time … that the poor and the weak may always have priority—very profound. It gives me the idea that the Church is very much present in people’s lives, even in politics,” Ventura said.
