by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“Political parties have the task of fostering widespread participation and making public responsibilities accessible to all. Political parties are called to interpret the aspirations of civil society, orienting them towards the common good, offering citizens the effective possibility of contributing to the formulation of political choices. They must be democratic in their internal structure, and capable of political synthesis and planning” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #413).
As we prepare for General Elections tomorrow (September 7), I urge each of you to offer up your prayers for leaders of political parties, candidates, and citizens of T&T, that we will all have the interests of our people and our country at heart.
Let us reflect on the words Pope Francis uttered during one of his homilies in September 2013. He said: “We cannot abandon the call to be leaven in the loaf of human culture – and that culture includes politics.” He pointed to the fact that we need leaders who LOVE. He said: “A leader who doesn’t love cannot govern – at best they can discipline, they can give a little bit of order, but they can’t govern. You can’t govern without loving the people and without humility! And every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government must ask themselves two questions: ‘Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?’ If you don’t ask those questions, your governance will not be good. The man or woman who governs, who loves his people, is a humble man or woman…
“None of us can say, ‘I have nothing to do with this, they govern.’ No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to give something! …A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern. But what is the best that we can offer to those who govern? Prayer!” (www.news.va)
As Catholics we know that participation is a key social justice principle. We cannot sit on the sidelines and hope that others will help to build the common good. This principle states that “People have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Everyone has the right not to be shut out from participating in those institutions necessary for human fulfilment, such as work, education, and political participation” (www.catholic.org.nz).
I recall the words of the Bishops of England and Wales before the general elections there earlier this year. They apply to us also: “As followers of Christ, we work with him to renew the face of the earth…As his disciples, we search for mercy, compassion and justice in all we say and do, and challenge where these are absent in our world. Together with the state and politicians, we are responsible for the kind of society we build…Politics is a vital and necessary vocation. It carries important responsibilities not only for policy decisions but also for shaping the hopes and aspirations of people. Political leaders can choose to appeal to our sense of hope or of fear, to our desires to care for others or for ourselves, and to our sense of solidarity or to our selfishness.”
The bishops continued: “We expect politicians to be committed to the common good. We also each have a responsibility to be involved in the democratic process. It is important that we vote. It is a duty which springs from the privilege of living in a democratic society. In deciding how we vote the question for each one of us is then: How, in the light of the Gospel, can my vote best serve the common good?
Prior to casting your vote, you may wish to use the following prayer: Lord, grant us wisdom that we may walk with integrity, guarding the path of justice and knowing the protection of your loving care for all.” (www.catholicnews.org.uk)
Let us pray too that our elections will be informed by the Code of Ethical Political Conduct.
