God Can't Vote, That's Why You Should Do So Wisely, Top Bishop Head Tells Faithful

God can't vote and prayers are not enough, that's why it's up to Catholics to choose the trustworthy in next year's elections, the incoming head of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines has told the faithful.

Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, one of the more outspoken Church leaders, has racked up nearly 10,000 Facebook views for his homily at the San Roque Cathedral, where he warned the flock against choosing murderers and thieves.

"We should be ashamed to call ourselves Christians if we don’t actively participate in getting the trustworthy candidates voted into office. That is, if we care at all about the future of our country," David said.

"Hindi sapat 'yung magdasal lang even if that is important. It is not enough to pray to just pray for good candidates... Unfortunately, hindi naman ang Panginoon ang boboto, kundi tayo."

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David said Catholics should take more time reflecting on the "political" Parable of Ten Talents in the Book of Luke, where the master entrusted cities to trustworthy servants.

"If the criteria are clear and obvious, the list can easily be trimmed down. But then of course, 'yung obvious sa iba ay hindi naman ganyan ka-obvious sa iba especially for the killers, the thieves, the liars, kanilang enamblers and supporters," he said.

"They can even control public opinion and get people to reject the good candidates or perhaps they can even crucify them in Jerusalem like they did with Jesus."

Like Jesus' parables that have happy endings, David said a "day of reckoning" would come to hold people into account. "The Lord will give them a dose of his own medicine," he said.