(File photo) MANILA - An official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday said the Church remains non-partisan in the May 9 polls but will stand firm in its position on various issues affecting the electorate. "The CBCP Social Action Network remains non-partisan because that is the mandate we have received from the entirety of the CBCP. We do not endorse candidates but that does not mean that we are neutral on our burning issues such as issues on social justice, human rights, on ecology, we have a bias in what is right and according to the social teachings of the church," Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, said in an interview with Radio Veritas. Bagaforo said the endorsement of Sangguniang Layko ng Pilipinas (SLP) of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo was the decision of the group of laity and does not reflect the position of the CBCP. The Kidapawan prelate
(File photo) MANILA - The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is set to discuss the upcoming national and local elections, among others in its online plenary assembly which opened on Thursday. Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP secretary general, said they have invited speakers from a range of sectors to discuss election issues. Pantin added that they are looking to release a pastoral statement in connection with the upcoming polls by early February. "The discussion aims to gather points and ideas that can be included in the statement," he said in an article posted on the Conference's news website. CBCP president Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David will preside over the virtual assembly. He will be assisted by vice president Mylo Hubert Vergara. Pantin added that also expected to be discussed are measures to strengthen environmental protection and climate actions. The discussions will be led by the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace
The upcoming local and national elections and the crafting of a pastoral statement will be among the top agenda items when Catholic bishops gather online
In the first assembly of Filipino bishops this year, the discussions include the coming national and local elections in May and environmental concerns, according to the report posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.