In his homily at the Metropolitan Cathedral last October 25, 2009, Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P., D.D. cited two provisions of Canon Law to explain his position on priests seeking to serve in public elective offices.

The Archbishop cited Canon 285.3 which provides that “CLERICS ARE FORBIDDEN TO ASSUME PUBLIC OFFICES WHICH ENTAIL A PARTICIPATION IN THE EXERCISE OF CIVIL POWER.”

He said that a priest does not get ordained for the purpose of entering into politics. The priest is concerned with the spiritual needs of the faithful, not their temporal needs. This provision of Canon Law, however, must be viewed under the light of another canon, which is Canon 287.

Canon 287 provides that “CLERICS ARE NOT TO HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN POLITICAL PARTIES AND IN THE DIRECTION OF LABOR UNIONS UNLESS THE NEED TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH OR TO PROMOTE THE COMMON GOOD REQUIRES IT IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE COMPETENT ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITY”.

In explaining the two canons, the Archbishop declared that a cleric can enter politics if in the judgment of the bishop there is a need for it to safeguard the rights of the Church or if this is demanded by the common good.

According to Canon 287 the bishop may permit his priest to run for a political office.

The grounds to be considered by the bishop in allowing his priest to enter politics include:

First, if the rights of the church are violated; second, if the common good asks for it; third, if there is no other, except a priest, who can provide a solution to the evils in government.

The Archbishop said that the field of politics is for lay people and the priest shall refrain from entering the field as long as there are lay people who are determined to participate in the political exercise. The obligation of the Church --- consequently of the Bishop and his priests --- it to teach, to form lay people, to educate them in their participation in politics as baptized Christians.

The Archbishop said that there are lay people who are preparing and are intending to enter the political contest. In truth, they are many, the Archbishop declared. But of the many what are needed are good lay leaders and not those who crave for wealth and power.

The Archbishop expressed wonder why there is nowadays a clamor for priests to enter politics. He said this is happening because people have been experiencing frustrations in what they observe in the affairs in government and in the services they need to receive from government.

When these people in government were campaigning for votes they promised heaven and earth in their desire to be servants of the people. But once elected, they simply help themselves in the benefits of their offices, putting to the sides the interests of the people.

A classic example, the Archbishop cited, is the creation of a fifth district in Camarines Sur, which according to a news item in Bicol Mail was made not to serve the interest of the Presidential son Dato Arroyo. The story says: “The law created a new district that would avoid an election contest between the first district’s former Congressman and now Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr. and incumbent Congressman Dato Arroyo, the president’s son for whom the new law was believed crafted as an accommodation convenient to both Dato and Andaya.”

Many objected to the enactment of RA 9716 which created the additional district in Camarines Sur on the ground that this Republic Act has infirmities, that is, the requirements for the creation of a congressional district were not fully complied with. If this is true, then the Republic Act was enacted to serve the interest of somebody, not of the community.

The Archbishop said that the conclusion that can be drawn from these developments is that, even if politics is important to the community, be it big or small, the people should be very discerning in choosing their leaders. There is a need for good lay people to involve themselves in politics in the forthcoming elections. There is a need for the electorate to be persuaded not by sweet words and promises but by worthwhile accomplishments. If they are re-electionists, what goodness have they done for the community? Did the community develop and grow or have the re-electionists grown richer and wealthier? Have these candidates been arrogant while in power or were of service to their constituents?

The recent calamities that have ravaged the country would make life more difficult in the days to come. Will these people in government to be elected in 2012 be able to deliver the services needed by the people? Will these candidates give false hopes to the people?

Are they added weight to government? Do they love their community or do they love their own family?