Lawmakers hounded by corruption issues seek moral guidance - Cardinal David

National

SOME lawmakers entangled in corruption controversies have quietly turned to the Catholic Church for moral guidance, troubled by their conscience amid rising public anger, Kalookan Bishop Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David revealed.

In an interview on the “KC After Hours” podcast released on Oct. 18, Cardinal David said several members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have sought out priests and bishops in recent weeks — not for political strategy, but for forgiveness and spiritual direction.

“Some of them seek counsel from us,” David said. “Because they’re also Catholics, and at some point, they get bothered by their conscience too. They seek our counsel.”

The prelate stressed that the Church does not turn anyone away who sincerely seeks repentance.

“We will not turn down people who, in all honesty, are really seeking our spiritual and moral advice — no matter what their reputation is,” he said.

David said he was struck by how some politicians rationalize corruption as a form of service, convincing themselves that the misuse of government funds is acceptable if it benefits their constituents.

“They sometimes justify it, saying it’s for the poor or their communities,” he said. “But of course, some of it lands in their own pockets.”

According to the cardinal in a Philstar report, this mentality reflects a deeper moral and cultural crisis in Philippine politics — one that normalizes wrongdoing under the guise of generosity.

“There is something really systemic about our problem,” he noted. “Public criticism and social media backlash only heighten the guilt of those involved.”

David said those who turn to the Church seem to recognize that the nation’s challenges cannot be resolved by policy reforms alone.

“It’s like our country is sick,” he said. “We need not just political change but moral recovery. We have to call a spade a spade.”

The cardinal’s comments come amid renewed scrutiny of government corruption following several high-profile investigations in Congress.

His remarks also echo calls from Church leaders for integrity and transparency in public service.

Cardinal David, who was formally installed as cardinal of his titular church in Rome on October 19, has long been known for his outspoken stance against injustice and abuse of power.

He joined the Trillion Peso March in September, a massive rally demanding accountability and reform in the use of public funds.

Appointed to the College of Cardinals by the late Pope Francis in 2024, David said the Church’s role remains clear: to offer moral guidance even to those whose past actions have drawn public condemnation.

“No one is beyond redemption,” he said. “But true repentance means confronting the truth — and choosing to change.”(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)