Catholics organizations demand politicians take a stand on life issues, as election nears

Mexico City, Mexico, Jun 26, 2009 / 14:45 pm

In a press release about the Pilgrimage for Peace and Unity, which will take place on June 28 in the Mexican capital, the organization Union de Voluntades (Union of Wills)—an umbrella organization that represents dozens of Catholic entities—called on candidates for the upcoming elections to clearly define their positions on life issues.

“Faced with the upcoming elections and the possibility that the political contest divides and fractures the unity of our country, we need to pray that the best interests of the nation—peace, harmony and the desire to resolve the serious problems our people face—be above the usual rivalry of the candidates,” the organization said.

It also stressed that “it is time to close ranks and work for the great principles that keep nations united: justice, the rule of law, the common good, the defense of life from conception to natural death and total respect for human dignity.”

After emphasizing that Union of Wills is non-partisan, the organization asked “all political parties and candidates for any office to abstain from participating in the pilgrimage” on Sunday, saying to do so would be to take advantage of the concerns and feelings of those in attendance in a way that would be inappropriate. It added, however, that voters have a right to know what the candidates positions are on life issues and that candidates have the duty to disclose them.

The organization said it has asked the Mexico City government to provide security for the Sunday event, emphasizing that it will be “peaceful gathering, expressly void of any act that is offensive or provocative.”