More priests to join political elections

Asia´s largest Catholic country is temporarily losing at least two more priests after they registered as candidates in the May 10 elections.

Father Emerson Luego greets his parishioners after his last Mass as he takes leave from his priestly ministry

One priest, Father Eddie Panlilio, was given leave of absence by his bishop in 2007 when he ran for governor of Pampanga. He won and registered to run for re-election on Dec. 1.

On Dec. 4, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando said the priest´s registration as candidate this time compels the bishop to initiate procedures for his suspension from priestly duties.

“Now that he is running again, we have to initiate the canonical process. He will not be working as a priest anymore,” Archbishop Aniceto says in an article on the CBCP website.

In the south, also on Dec. 1, Father Emerson Luego of Tagum diocese, Davao del Norte province filed candidacy papers for mayor of Santo Tomas town.

Father Allan Alindajao, Tagum´s judicial vicar, told UCA News his confrere´s suspension from priestly ministry takes effect when he receives the official letter from the diocese.

Canon 285 and 287 of the Church´s 1983 Code of Canon Law states that clerics are forbidden to assume public office whenever it means sharing in the exercise of civil power.

Father Luego told reporters that after a “tough” decision, he was filing for leave of absence from the ministry.

He said he chose politics over his ministry “so I can serve my hometown.”

The 36-year-old priest, ordained in 1999, has also served as council board member for nine years. He said he wants to help his hometown “by breaking the monopoly of leadership there, which has not contributed much to its development.”

He is running on a platform of good governance based on “transparency and consultative leadership, just like what we are doing in our BECs (basic ecclesial communities).” Hundreds of parishioners grew emotional as he announced his candidacy at his final Sunday Mass in San Isidro this year.

Father Eddie Panlilio (File photo)

Northwest of Tagum in Bukidnon province, Jesuit Bishop Honesto Pacana of Malaybalay also suspended Father Diosdado Tabios from his ministry after the priest registered for the gubernatorial race.

“After discerning, Father Tabios opted to run and I told him of his suspension and he understood the consequences,” Bishop Pacana wrote in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops´ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

The 76-year-old prelate said under the suspension, Father Tabios may not administer the Sacraments and perform other priestly duties. He stressed, however, that the priest can resume his priestly duties and obligations after an evaluation process when his political career ends.

In addition to citing canon law, Bishop Pacana explained, “Partisan politics can divide people.”

Division intensified among clergy and lay members of the San Fernando archdiocese during the term of Father Panlilio as provincial governor, his confreres acknowledged.