06 May Inter-Faith Prayer Rally Conducted in CDO in Preparation for the Upcoming Elections
Image Source | Sunstar.com.ph
Thursday, May 5, Cagayan de Oro Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) organized an Inter-Faith Rally at Kiosko Kagawasan in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City (CDO).
The Interfaith rally has been attended by mixed religious denominations; Muslims, Lumads, and various Christian religions and organizations.
Proculo Sarmen of the YMCA said that the event has addressed to the leaders of various religious organizations and centered on praying for the upcoming elections on May 9 and the leaders that are to be elected. He also reminded to pray for the plans that the leaders will initiate, especially in the most common concerns such as health, poverty, and education, to name a few.
Sarmen said, “Ang YMCA believes in poverty alleviation and people empowerment to solve the failure of governance. We should not be alienated by politics because we believe in genuine politics.”
Bishop Antonio Ledesma of CDO reminded the people who attended the interfaith rally that they are to vote the candidate that addresses the common good of the people.
“Hagit sa tanan to be clear in our principles nga election is not a question of popularity but looking at resolving problems in the society,” said Ledesma.
There are five principles that the voters must know in choosing the best candidate that they are to vote for the presidency this May said Ledesma. These are Competence, Commitment, Conscience, Compassion, and Companion. These criteria, he said, must be properly considered by the voters so that they can have a balanced decision come election time.
Champ (Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful and Peaceful) elections must be achieved to have these criteria fulfilled.
But above all these principles that he has suggested, it is the conscience that renders as the most important among any other, for moral integrity is higher than excellent intelligence.
“We hope that the basic gospel values regardless of political platforms can be subscribed by candidates,” Ledesma added.
Ledesma then concluded, “In our inter-religion dialogue forum we always said that Islam and Christianity are religions of peace and we share many values.”
No Comments