English bishops release advice to voters on coming elections
April 07, 2015
The Catholic bishops of England and Wales have issued guidelines for voters in the upcoming elections, saying that Catholics should be guided by a “desire to build a world in which respect, dignity, equality, justice, and peace are our primary concerns.”
“Voting in a general election should seldom, if ever, be based on a single issue,” the bishops say. They encourage voters to consider a wide range of issues, while noting that some issue—“particularly those concerned with the dignity and value of human life and human flourishing”—are more important than others.
The bishops’ statement lists several priorities:
- Respecting life,
- Supporting marriage and family life; alleviating poverty,
- Educating for the good of all,
- Building communities, and
- Caring for the world
The statement argues for policies that will enable Catholic families to choose Catholic schools, and respect parental choice in religious education. The bishops urge votes to support candidates who will protect the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity in “the debate about European institutions”—a statement that could be seen as a rebuke to the “Euroskeptics” who have seen a boom in popularity in recent months.
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Posted by: Jerz -
Apr. 08, 2015 1:54 PM ET USA
I don't understand the need to say an election shouldn't be based on a "single issue" except to give people an out to vote for a pro-abort.
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Posted by: Thomas429 -
Apr. 07, 2015 6:37 PM ET USA
It all sounds so nice. What is needed is equality of opportunity not just equality. Voting for governments that propose to create equality is voting for income redistribution and overpowering governments. We know how that has worked out in the past . . .
