BOPK PROCLAMATION/OCT. 12, 2015: The complete slate of Bando Osmeña Pondok Kauswagon (BOPK) headed by mayoralty candidate Tomas Osmeña (center) were (from L-R) councilorial candidates for south district; Eugenue Gabuya, Randy Navarro, Danny Pacaña, Vic Bundia, Bonel Balingit, Allan’Goliat” Nacorda, Anne Vesti-Palomo, Margot Osmeña and re-electionist congressman Bebot Abellanosa and Vice mayoralty candidate Nestor Archival (9th from right) For the North district congressman re-electionist Raul Del Mar (to archival’s left) councilorial candidates for the north were (start to Del Mar’s left) Garry Lao, Malou Inocando Ouano-Tabar, Mary Ann Delos Santos, Nida Cabrera, Alvin Dizon, Sisinio Andales and Alvin Arcelia rais their hands before their hundreds of supporter during the proclamation of BOPK complete slate in St. Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the South Road Properties.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The Cebu Archdiocese reminded candidates in next year’s elections to avoid staging political sorties inside churches, saying they are a “place of worship.”
Msgr. Esteban Binghay said while starting an election campaign with a Mass is good, introducing a lineup of candidates in front of the altar is uncalled for.
“Please be reminded that the church is solely for the celebration of the Mass (and the other sacraments). It is a place of worship and its solemnity must be preserved at all cost,” said Binghay, a canon lawyer.
Binghay said this a day after the presentation of Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) candidates inside the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod at the South Road Properties (SRP) last Monday.
“Anything that disturbs the solemnity and sacredness of churches, particularly partisan politics, is improper,” Binghay said.
Guidelines
Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Dennis Villarojo said the archdiocese needs to come up with clear guidelines on the matter.
“Since there were no explicit guidelines at that time (the BO-PK incident took place), we consider whatever happened as an act of good faith. What’s done is done, so we’ll let it pass for now,” he said.
Villarojo is in charge of the archdiocese while Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma is in Rome for the Synod of Bishops on the Family which runs until Oct. 25.
“What we can do now is to formulate guidelines for priests and sharpen our procedures. We’re grateful and appreciative of the fact that political parties invoke the blessing of the Lord at the start of any political exercise,” he said.
“In future events, we appeal that the non-partisan stance of the church be respected and that the sanctity of the sacraments be preserved,” Villarojo said.
Responsibility
After a Mass officiated by Msgr. Roberto Alesna last Monday, former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña took the microphone, stood in front of the altar, and called his felow candidates one by one to the front and introduced them to the public. They later joined hands and raised them in the air in a gesture of victory.
Reached for comment yesterday, Osmeña said he had no intention of showing disrespect and apologized to anyone who was offended their action.
“There was no proclamation. It was mostly a photo op. No speeches, only a short introduction. My press conference was done in another venue,” he told Cebu Daily News.
“Anyway, we did not intend to do anything improper. I will take responsibility for what happened. I extend my apologies if anyone who was offended,” he said.
On a personal note, Binghay said the BO-PK incident last Monday should serve as lesson for everyone regarding the proper use of churches.
He said even graduation ceremonies, except for the Mass, have already been prohibited inside the church.