Philippine bishops call for prayer, vigilance for peaceful elections

Published: 2004-04-22

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Church leaders called for a nationwide campaign of prayer and vigilance for peaceful elections as a special assembly of Philippine bishops concluded April 21 in Manila. At least 70 bishops attended the April 20-21 conference at the Pius XII Catholic Center, where they released their pastoral letter, "Nation-Building Through Elections," on the May 10 general elections, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The statement urged lay people to preserve the electoral process from fraud, violence and other "unconstitutional means" that would sway results or halt the elections. "The vigilance and concerted action of ordinary citizens would be the best guarantee of maintaining honest, orderly and peaceful elections," the bishops said.

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