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Catholic Bishops call for faithful to reflect on beauth and goodness of Church teaching ahead of General Election
| Posted on May 15, 2017 at 10:20 AM |
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 In a pastoral letter which will be read at all 500
Catholic churches in Scotland this weekend (20/21 May) Scotland's Catholic
Bishops, will urge parishioners to participate in the 2017 General Election and
to be informed by the teachings of the Church. The detailed statement will invite Catholic voters to consider a number of key issues ahead of casting their vote at the election on June 8th. Commenting on the letter, the Director of the Catholic
Parliamentary Office, Anthony Horan said; “This General election provides an
opportunity for Catholics to take their beliefs into the polling station and
elect members of parliament who share their concerns.” The full text of the letter is as follows: This General Election presents us with an opportunity to
reflect on Catholic social teaching. As Christians, we have a civic and moral
duty to engage with our democracy. As Catholics, we believe that the primary
goal of society should be the common good; that is the good of all people and
of the whole person. Indeed, the common good is the very reason political
authority exists. This election provides an opportunity to reflect on the
beauty and goodness of Church teaching and to keep that teaching at the forefront
of our minds as we engage with candidates across all parties. During elections,
a range of issues compete for your attention; we highlight some of them here in
the hope that you will reflect on them and raise them with your candidates. Human Life Human life at every stage of development is precious and
must be protected. Any laws which permit
the wilful ending of life must always be rejected as reprehensible and unjust.
We must create a culture of life where the most vulnerable are valued and their
dignity respected. The undeniable value of human life, created in the image and
likeness of God, is fundamental to the Catholic faith. We should remind our
politicians that abortion, assisted suicide and euthanasia are always morally
unacceptable. Marriage and the Family Society relies on the building block of the family to
exist. The love of man and woman in marriage and their openness to new life is
the very basic cell upon which society is built. The wellbeing of society
depends on the flourishing and health of family life and those in authority
should respond to this with policies that create economic and other advantages
for families with children. Poverty Sadly, poverty continues to be a scourge for many at home
and abroad. Too many people still struggle to make ends meet. This sad reality
cannot and should not endure in our country in the twenty-first century. Our
concerns should also extend to providing international assistance, while
ensuring that aid is not used to support immoral practices such as those which
compromise the basic right to life. Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Immigration The United
Kingdom should be a place where the most vulnerable are welcomed and given the
resources necessary to rebuild their lives. At the same time, we should provide
for those people living in and around conflict zones, and commit to working
towards the peaceful resolution of conflict. Living in Europe There are millions of EU citizens living in the UK and
millions of UK citizens living across the EU.
Mindful of the uncertainty affecting them, candidates should commit to
working towards delivering stability and security for them in future. Our politicians should forge and renew
international partnerships and establish rights for those who wish to work in
the UK, in a spirit of cooperation and friendship. Freedom of Religion and Conscience Millions of people worldwide are persecuted for their
beliefs. People of faith, including Christians, should be able to freely
practise their faith and bear witness to it in their lives, without fear of
prejudice, intolerance, abuse or violence. Candidates should be committed to
the right of people not to be forced to act against their conscience. Nuclear Weapons and the Arms Trade The use of any weapon that causes more than individual
and proportionate harm to civilians is immoral and, thus, rejected by the
Church. The use of weapons of mass destruction is a serious crime against God
and against humanity. While states are entitled to possess the means required
for legitimate defence, this must not become an excuse for an excessive
accumulation of weaponry which becomes a considerable threat to stability and
freedom. Respectful Politics Often, politicians are tempted to score points or resort
to insults. We need politicians who are willing to change this and to take
politics in a new direction, where dialogue is respectful, and where different
points of view, including those of a religious nature, are tolerated. As we cast our votes this election, let us bear in mind
the words of Pope Francis when he said, “The greatness of any nation is
revealed in its effective care of society’s most vulnerable members.” Our
nation, our Parliament, and our Government will be judged on how it treats its
poorest and most vulnerable citizens. Yours devotedly in Christ, Philip Tartaglia, President, Archbishop of Glasgow Leo
Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh Joseph Toal,
Vice-President, Bishop of Motherwell Hugh Gilbert, Episcopal Secretary,
Bishop of Aberdeen Stephen Robson, Bishop of Dunkeld John Keenan,
Bishop of Paisley William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway Brian McGee,
Bishop of Argyll and the Isles |