Australian bishops issue election statement

July 08, 2013

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has issued “Vote for the Common Good,” a statement on the upcoming federal election.

“The principles of social teaching cross party political boundaries and Catholics may, in good conscience, form different opinions on the candidates and parties standing for election,” the bishops state. “We encourage Catholics to look beyond their own individual needs to apply a different test at the ballot box – the test of what we call the common good.”

In their statement, the bishops offer brief reflections on ten issues: poor and vulnerable, marriage and family, child protection, life, indigenous Australians, refugees and migration, education, health, peace and development, and ecology and sustainability.

“There must be legal recognition of the unique nature of marriage between a man and a woman, and proper protection for the rights of children to relate to their natural mother and father,” the document states. “Respect for human life requires constant vigilance to ensure euthanasia and assisted suicide are never legalized in Australia. These acts, presented as acts of mercy, would in fact abandon those who need our care and protection most.”

 

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Further information:

• Vote for the Common Good (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)