Faithful Citizenship: A Contemporary Filipino Catholic Approach to Political Participation

Date of Award

12-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts major in Theological Studies

First Advisor

Joaquin Yap, Jr., SW, DPhil

Abstract

It is the purpose of this thesis to establish the role that the Christian faith has in the contentious field of Philippine politics. The importance of this topic cannot be understated given that the role of religion in such matters, if it indeed has one, has been the subject of much debate. There are those who might argue that religion has been exiled to the private experience of a select few and has thus little to contribute to the concerns of a modern society, its politics least of all. However, even the staunchest critics of religion have themselves concluded that secular and pluralistic societies like the Philippines still draw much guidance from the wisdom of religion as it discerns its proper response to contemporary social and political issues. Indeed, the role of religion in society today has not been extinguished – it has only evolved. “Faithful Citizenship,” an evocative term adapted from the U.S. Catholic bishops, is thus the key term that is used to denote a believer’s participation in political matters in accordance with the teachings of the Christian faith.

By drawing from the wisdom of Sacred Scripture, magisterial teaching, and the collective experience of Filipino Catholics, the thesis makes the case that there exists a clear and consistent call to all Catholics to bear witness to their faith even in political matters. While engaging in politics is never a topmost priority for any Catholic, nor should it be pursued for its own sake alone, such an endeavor remains to be a constitutive expression of one’s faith, most especially when politics is viewed as the means by which society could be justly structured in pursuit of the common good. Through the example of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Mt 5:1-12), the magisterial teachings in Evangelii Gaudium and PCP II, and the role that the Church has had in Philippine history, a framework for Faithful Citizenship was put together in the hopes that it would be useful in guiding the political participation of Filipino Catholics.

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