Who needs to speak up? Not all religious leaders have moral leadership

To claim they defend the oppressed people, religious leaders, especially, need to speak up first. There’s a small price to pay: speak with depth, responsibility, and conscience.

Perhaps, some sort of promissory note, too; remember religious leaders who are not their allies nor share the same views. We also need to win their hearts because if not, they are merely bound to follow superlawyer-columnist Joel Ruiz Butuyan’s prodding that “Religious leaders need to speak up” (12/2/26).

There must be a promise that they will carefully study the “bawal pumatay, bawal magnakaw” stances of the likes of Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David, Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva, Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario, Sister Mary John Mananzan, and other influential religious organizations, and vice versa, listen carefully to nonallies in the spirit of a healthy exchange of ideas, because, as friends of Voltaire put it, they may disapprove of what they say, but they will defend to death their right to say it.

It is undeniable that in recent years, particularly during the presidency of former President Rodrigo Duterte, extrajudicial killings (EJKs), human rights, and state accountability have become central issues. It is but natural for many, in the face of thousands of state-sponsored killings, to hope that religious leaders who are supposedly defenders of life, and dignity would be clear and courageous in their anti-EJK stance.

Some have issued statements, engaged in hearings and discussions, but the lack of numbers and strength of these voices is striking. I remember some of my students’ faces when they defended Duterte’s brutal campaign. Even academic organizations and professors I highly regard haven’t spoken out.

The point is simple: More religious voices are fraught with danger as religious language may be used to justify killing, not serving the interest of justice or making the distortion of truth more acceptable.

The direction and integrity of the stance are more important than quantity. The Philippines won’t become a “just and humane society” if it simply adds statements and sermons. They must clearly be rooted in truth, and a truly moral leadership speaks not only when it’s safe, but also when it’s risky. When listeners are capable of examining, questioning, and analyzing, they won’t merely be carried away by rhetoric, no matter how holy it may sound. So the responsibility lies in the pews, not just in the pulpit. Later, these listeners will and can speak truth to power, although we should keep an eye on their other leaders.

Many histories show that “prophetic” voices are often a minority within their own countries and institutions. Thus, it is more realistic to recognize and support civil society organizations, their leaders, the labor force, and young people, who really stand up. Modern-day churches cannot be expected to suddenly become united and strong, nor can we hear the religious leaders’ voices as one. Before speaking as one, they must identify shared values and address societal ills, without desiring oneness in theology.