Defense of life, family and human rights fundamental in elections, say Peruvian bishops

Lima, Peru, Sep 23, 2010 / 09:49 am

The Peruvian Bishops’ Conference released a statement yesterday reminding voters that in order to cast an informed and responsible vote they must take into account the ethical dimension of the candidates.

In their statement, the bishops underscored that “the social doctrine of the Church teaches that in order to discern what is most just and appropriate for achieving the common good, the primacy of the human person must be taken into account, the fundamental rights of the family must be guaranteed and promoted, the weakest in society must be included … and the exercise of authority must be considered a service and not domination.”

After underscoring the importance of voter participation and the analysis of the agenda of those running for public office, the bishops said, “The ethical and moral vision of the candidates regarding fundamental values such as the defense of human life, the family, marriage, the dignity of women and human rights must be taken into account as  the future of the country demands” ethics to bring about “the support and changes our society needs.”

The bishops also exhorted the media to seek the truth in their reporting out of justice and concern for the common good, respecting the privacy of individuals. They also urged candidates for office to carry out their campaigns with respect and decency.