Church leaders today said that the re-election of President Ma Ying-jeou in national polls over the weekend could strengthen Church relations between the mainland and Taiwan during his second term in office.

Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan of Taipei, president of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, said Ma’s victory  could prove beneficial to fostering greater development and exchange by assisting in the formation of mainland clergy and enhancing communications between the Holy See and the mainland.

Meanwhile, local Church officials hope that Ma, who won his re-election bid on a platform that emphasized clean government, stability and peaceful relations with the mainland, would do more to ease the burdens of parishioners at home.

Sister Stephana Wei Wei, director of the Jesuit-run Rerum Novarum Center, which provides economic and legal relief for migrant workers and other underprivileged groups, said she hopes that Ma will take a more proactive approach to poverty alleviation.

“We cannot rely only on donations from the public or the benevolence of rich people,” she said.

She added that the government should adopt effective taxation measures to redistribute wealth more fairly, improve development and ensure that existing vocational training is relevant to industrial trends.

Cher Wang, one of Taiwan’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, told media following the result that the incumbent’s re-election was important for Taiwan’s future development politically and socially.

“Ma’s victory means that people have taken note of the importance of peace across the Straits,” said Wang.

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