Be gracious losers.

This was the appeal of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to all political candidates for the May 10, 2010 elections.

In a pastoral statement titled, “Transforming Election through a Solidarity of Consciences,’’ CBCP president and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar said that candidates should learn to accept their defeat in case they don’t win in the National and Local elections on Monday.

To recall, a presidential candidate said only a failure of the automated election system will make him lose the race to Malacañang due to his strong showing in almost all pre-election surveys.

Ochimar also called on candidates to shun vote-buying by letting the electorate freely choose their  own candidates.

“Be truly God-fearing and shun vote-buying even if it costs you votes. Let your lives and track record convince voters. Be people of proven integrity and service,” he said.

The Tandag, Surigao del Sur prelate urged the people not to believe everything that they hear, especially those that feed on their fears such as the fear of failure of elections.

“Fear has a way of exaggerating itself, especially when uncertainties remain and questions are unanswered,” said Odchimar.

He reminded the electorate to use only their conscience when voting.

“Let us choose the way of God during elections by choosing good and rejecting evil, even the lesser evil,” Odchimar said.

“Listening to one’s conscience is the starting point for infusing Christian morality and spirituality into the electoral process,” he added.