A priest last week called on his colleagues to get ready to campaign in the grassroots level for the May 2016 elections.
Fr. Carmelo Diola, executive director of the Dilaab Foundation Inc., said this campaign is about promoting public awareness on the virtues of a good candidate, rather than endorsing a particular candidate.
The goal of this exercise is to “urge and try to form the consciences of the people, by calling on them not to sell their votes in whatever form.”
The Roman Catholic Church leader advised the priests to let candidates undergo a LASER test, which stands for Lifestyle, Accomplishment/Action, Supporters, Election Conduct, and Reputation test.
They must examine candidates for any sign of unexplained wealth, or a politician’s lifestyle will speak volumes about that person.
This is a very laudable idea. In fact, it is long overdue. The Church, regardless of denomination, should even make conscience-building a daily activity.
To take the idea further, the LASER test should be applied not just to the candidates for next year’s elections but also to the crop of incumbent officials who are in the corridors of power.
This may, however, be a bit difficult for some men of the cloth – whether Roman Catholics or Protestants – who have already chosen to openly side with incumbent officials. Some of them are even on the payroll of government offices. At least one man of the cloth is up to his neck in his involvement in politics that he was not anymore given any church assignment this year. By doing so, people like them have lost their moral authority to advise their flock.
But of course, we still see more men of the cloth whose hearts are in the right place. Our prayer for them that they will shun temptations of the flesh, and that they will be victorious over the quest for power, fame, and mammon.
