ZAGREB, Nov 29 (Hina) - The Catholic bishops of Croatia on Monday issued a message on the occasion of an impending parliamentary election in which the point out it is most important that the ones elected be persons who by their
"honesty and abilities can best answer and most contribute to the current needs of the Croatian state and its citizens." The bishops point out that "every citizen with the right to vote can contribute to bringing into parliament the most efficient and most worthy candidates," and therefore urged all to exercise their right to vote for the common good. Addressing the Catholic faithful, the bishops pointed out that in "deciding for whom to vote (the voters) should also pay attention to how much party programmes and the moral image of a certain candidate on a party list are in keeping with the religious teaching and moral principles of the Catholic Church."
ZAGREB, Nov 29 (Hina) - The Catholic bishops of Croatia on Monday
issued a message on the occasion of an impending parliamentary
election in which the point out it is most important that the ones
elected be persons who by their "honesty and abilities can best
answer and most contribute to the current needs of the Croatian
state and its citizens."
The bishops point out that "every citizen with the right to vote can
contribute to bringing into parliament the most efficient and most
worthy candidates," and therefore urged all to exercise their right
to vote for the common good.
Addressing the Catholic faithful, the bishops pointed out that in
"deciding for whom to vote (the voters) should also pay attention to
how much party programmes and the moral image of a certain candidate
on a party list are in keeping with the religious teaching and moral
principles of the Catholic Church."
"A Catholic should not vote for those who in their programme deny
and destroy those values which are sacred to the faithful. In
considering a certain party or a certain candidate, the faithful
will attempt to inquire into how much the party or candidate in
question advocate tolerance and dialogue, the building of a law-
based and welfare state, justice in society, how much care they show
for the family and children, the unemployed, the young, the poor,
the elderly, how much they promote the civilisation of love and
advocate human life from conception to natural death."
The bishops especially stress that all who are responsible for
organising and implementing the elections are obligated to make the
elections not only democratic, but secret and free as well, in
keeping with international conventions and democratic standards
valid in Europe.
"The official commissions and groups which monitor the elections
should be of mixed composition," says the bishops' message, and
adds that "some factors outside the Croatian territory should not
limit the expression of the Croatian voters' true will."
The bishops called on priests to refrain from entering any party
activity. "They should on no account direct (voters) for which
party they should vote. May every faithful decide for him- or
herself which programme and which candidate to choose, which party
to give his or her vote to," says the message.
Given that this year's Christmas marks the beginning of the Great
Jubilee celebration, the 2000th anniversary of Christianity,
Croatia's Catholic bishops expressed hope that, with due attention
and consideration on the part of all participants in pre-electoral
campaigning, the "liturgical atmosphere of the pre-Christmas and
Christmas period" would not be significantly disturbed.
(hina) ha mm