As midterm polls near, voters urged to uphold moral values

Local

AS Filipinos prepare to head to the polls, an Augustinian friar has called on the public, particularly Catholics, to treat the upcoming elections with the same level of discernment and integrity shown in the recent selection of the new pope by the conclave.

Fr. Jules Van Almerez, media liaison of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, urged voters to reflect deeply on their choices, emphasizing the importance of moral values and integrity when scrutinizing candidates.

“Just like how the Church discerned the candidates before the election of the new Pope, I hope we also take time to discern the people we vote for,” Almerez said in an interview to get the reaction of the Augustinian community in Cebu after the selection of Pope Leo XIV.

“Part of discernment is to uphold your moral values and integrity," he added.

He stressed that the process of carefully evaluating bishops who could become Pope should also apply to choosing local and national leaders.

"Kung unsa mo ka-strikto when it comes to scrutinizing the bishops who would become pope, dapat in-ana pud unta sa atong local and national candidates," he siaid

Following the white smoke that signaled the election of Pope Leo XIV, many in Cebu’s Catholic community welcomed the news with joy and hope, particularly among Augustinian friars who had previously met him during his visits to the island province.

The papal conclave is a solemn and confidential process held in the Sistine Chapel, where eligible cardinals under the age of 80 gather to elect a new pope through secret ballots.

The process includes prayer, reflection, and multiple rounds of voting until a two-thirds majority is reached. White smoke from the chapel’s chimney signals that a new pope has been chosen.

Vote-buying

On the issue of vote-buying, Almerez acknowledged its presence in the country’s political culture but reminded voters to listen to their conscience.

“Let your conscience decide whether to take the cash or not. You shouldn’t exchange your dignity as a voter,” he said, adding that the act of voting is sacred and must be respected.

“It’s our right. You should respect it because of the nature of being sacred,” Almerez said.(MyTVCebu)