Does the Church have moral authority to blame dirty politicians?

A number of priests, pastors, and other religious leaders have attacked the government and the political system on several issues. With due respect, have these modern scribes and Pharisees reflected deeply that the people they are attacking belong to the very churches and congregations they are supposedly leading?

Time and time again, it has been demonstrated that all election malpractices and shenanigans were perpetrated by people who claim to be devoted Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, (that includes Catholics, protestants, INC, Aglipayans, and born-again Christians). It’s also proven by empirical data and anecdotal evidence that voters who allow themselves to be bought, manipulated, and deceived all likewise claim to be devoted and dedicated churchgoers and church workers. And so, given these premises, we should ask the inevitable question: What moral authority does any Church have to blame the government for all the problems besetting our electoral processes?

We don’t only refer to the Catholic Church. Catholics are not solely to blame for their failure to inculcate moral values in their church membership. All churches of all faiths and congregations are likewise guilty. No one is without blemish. Everyone has some fault. If we accept the principle that the people are the church then, we have many morally-depraved churches because there are millions of morally-depraved church members. Candidates and voters are churchgoers and church workers, so how can the Church blame politicians for all the electoral frauds, malpractices, and problems?

When it comes to vote buying, look who did the buying and who did the selling. They are the ones who hear Masses, or worship in synagogues and mosques. The ones who practice what all religious faiths condemn are also members of the same religious sects or congregations. Thus, we submit that there is no church leader who can self-righteously proclaim condemnation of electoral fraud. For to so condemn would, in effect, be an act of condemning their own followers and adherents.

Somehow, all churches have failed to inculcate moral values in their members. Church leaders have failed to mold the character of their adherents, members, and believers on the values of integrity. The churches have to accept responsibility and not shift that to the government. The people in the government are the same people of and in the church. It is the duty of the church leaders to teach their members why it is essential to remain morally upright all the time, including in matters related to elections. Dirty politicians are also religious members or even leaders. Corrupt political leaders and corrupt voters are also believers.

There were even religious groups who openly endorsed candidates in the last polls and their choices are patently tainted and are indubitably questionable. These groups openly declared support for trapos who had been convicted of, or are being accused of plunder, corruption, and other charges of high crimes constituting blatant betrayal of the peoples' trust. And so, no scribes or Pharisees have the moral right to point accusing fingers at any politicians. They, too, are sinners in the eyes of God. Their hands aren’t clean. They can’t throw stones. They should pray and keep their mouths shut.