South Africa’s bishops issue election statement, emphasize sanctity of life, marriage

February 10, 2014

South Africa’s bishops have urged Catholics to register to vote for the upcoming general election, which will take place on the twentieth anniversary of the end of apartheid.

“In the light of what our Christian faith teaches us we propose the following criteria to help us to discern how to vote and with which political agency to align ourselves,” the bishops stated. Our participation in political life requires that we promote: the sacredness of human life and the dignity of each human being, support for marriage and family, social responsibility and respect for the common good, the just sharing of resources and wealth, [and] compassionate solidarity with the poor and marginalized.”

The nation of 49 million is 73% Protestant, 7% Catholic, and 2% Muslim.

 

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Further information:

• Register This Weekend! Vote on May 7! (SACBC)
• South African general election, 2014 (Wikipedia)