Spirituality and Good Governance

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Webinar on “Spirituality and Good Governance” with our resource person Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D., Archbishop Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro.

The meeting focused on spirituality and good governance, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity, competence, compassion, and commitment in political candidates. Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, D.D. highlighted the need for voters to discern candidates based on practical guidelines and moral issues, such as extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, and environmental protection. He criticized political dynasties and the spread of fake news. The discussion also addressed the role of the church in promoting moral values and the challenges of vote-buying and vote-selling. The meeting concluded with a call for voters to participate in governance beyond the election.

Presentation

  • Archbishop Ledesma begins his presentation with a prayer for good governance, quoting Solomon’s prayer for wisdom.
  • He outlines the general principles of spirituality and good governance, including human dignity, the common good, and social justice.

Practical Guidelines for Choosing Candidates

  • Archbishop Ledesma introduces the five C’s: conscience, competence, compassion, companions, and commitment.
  • He explains each criterion in detail, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity, educational qualifications, and service records.
  • The archbishop highlights the need for candidates to respect human rights, protect the environment, and avoid corruption.
  • He stresses the importance of choosing candidates who have a track record of service and who are not tainted by charges of corruption.

Moral Issues and the Role of the Church

  • Archbishop Ledesma discusses seven moral issues that voters should consider when choosing candidates: extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, plunder and corruption, political dynasties, martial law revisionism, fake news, and environmental protection.
  • He provides examples and statistics to illustrate each issue, emphasizing the need for candidates to take a stand on these moral issues.
  • The archbishop highlights the role of the church in promoting moral values and passing judgments on current election issues.
  • He stresses the importance of the church’s prophetic role in condemning moral issues and promoting the common good.

Open Forum and Audience Questions

  • The audience raises concerns about vote buying, the influence of fake news, and the role of the church in political endorsements.
  • Archbishop Ledesma and other participants respond to these questions, emphasizing the importance of a discernment process and the need for voters to be informed and vigilant.
  • The discussion highlights the challenges of maintaining integrity in the election process and the importance of promoting moral values and good governance.

Conclusion and Final Remarks

  • Archbishop Ledesma concludes his presentation by emphasizing the importance of good governance and the role of voters in choosing candidates who embody moral values.
  • He encourages voters to follow a discernment process and to consider the practical guidelines and moral issues discussed in the presentation.
  • The meeting ends with a certificate of appreciation for Archbishop Ledesma’s efforts and contributions to the discussion.
  • The participants express their gratitude and commitment to promoting spirituality and good governance in the upcoming elections.