Faithful told to help church by seeking public office

The president of the newly-created Commission of the Laity of the Archdiocese of Cebu urged the faithful to participate in politics.

Fe Barino, Commission on the Laity president, said it is time for lay persons to join politics to help spread the church’s teachings.

While many lay people are reluctant to run for elective positions, Barino said they can convince people “of good value” to run and carry their agenda.

Barino said this during the commission’s first general assembly at the IC3 Convention Center in Cebu City yesterday.

Barino described the lay faithful as a “sleeping giant” who has yet to recognize its role in spreading the teachings of the Church.

She said that aside from addressing community issues, the faithful can help defend the Church from critics.

“In the past, I feel so sad that our Church is heavily criticized. I feel so sad that we don’t have enough voices to answer the criticisms. I feel so sad that even our priests won’t reply to avoid getting into trouble with the critics. Now is the time for the sleeping giant to wake up,” she said.

In a separate interview, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma agreed that the faithful should be active in politics. He said that while the clergy are required to be non-partisan, the lay faithful are encouraged to “sanctify and bring the Gospel to the world of economics, politics, culture and education, among others.”