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Politics Without Principle is Vain
22 February 2006 --- "If there is no principle (in politics), there is no true worth, nothing you can depend on."
This was according to Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, in his talk during the 33rd Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao Assembly held in Surigao City Tuesday.
Delivering his message to around 500 priests, he said that the answer to a hale society is to get the social will, the value system, aligned with correct principles.
"If there are no guiding principles, there are no clear goals, then we will tire ourselves of shadow boxing," he said.
Lagdameo also stated that economic and political transactions must be based on moral foundations.
"When they keep hidden agenda and they rationalize even the wrong or immoral activities, it will soon be bad economics or bad politics. Trust and confidence will surely be lost," he claimed.
While the bishops have called on the people to pursue search for the truth and integrity of the political leaders, Lagdameo also urged the priests to also protect the image of the Church.
"As priests there is always the struggle to maintain consistency in the truth of our identity both in our public life and in our private life," he said.
"We have to strive to be credible prophets as well," he added.
Also present during the said annual event were Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla, former CBCP president, Archbishop Jesus Dosado of Ozamis, Bishop Jose Manguiran of Dipolog, Bishop Ramon Fruto of Iligan, Bishop Ramon Valles of Kidapawan, Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos of Butuan with his co-adjutor Bishop Zacharias Jimenez, and Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos.
The participants came from the 21 Dioceses of Mindanao which are divided into five regions namely: DADITAMA, (Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati), CABUSTAM (Cagayan, Butuan, Surigao, Tandag and Malaybalay), DOPIM (Dipolog, Ozamis, Pagadian, Iligan and Marawi), and ZAMBASULI (Zamboangga, Basilan, Sulu and Ipil.)
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