Scottish bishops ask faithful to vote for parliament members who share Christian values

Apr 17, 2007 / 06:23 am

The Scottish bishops have written a letter to the voters of their dioceses, who are going to elect a new Parliament on May 3rd, asking them to question the nominees on some key issues of Catholic morality, such as the family, the schools, the right to life, and religious freedom.

In the message, read in all Scottish churches over the weekend, the Bishops speak of “a conflict of values in society” that has led to “policies, social legislation and regulations which are seriously at odds with the insights and values of our Christian faith and of other faiths.”

In addition to issues such as abortion, poverty, and embryonic experimentation, the bishops noted the recent regulations on family law that have been introduced by the ”Equality Act,” which will be enacted on April 30th, and which will oblige Catholic adoption agencies to either equate homosexual couples with heterosexual couples or face closure for “discrimination.”

The bishops also pointed to the plans of the British Government to continue the development of nuclear weaponry. News that, according to the Scottish Bishops, “damage not only the good of the Catholic community but the good of the whole humankind and must be fought against when voting".

At the same time, the letter notes that some candidates share the “Christian values” of Catholics and that there are “signs of a desire for an authentic Christian voice in politics serving the common good of people of all faiths and none.”

Last week, Cardinal Keith O' Brien had asked the Catholics to keep in mind the Bishops’ advice when they go to the polls to vote.

Below is the full Statement from the Bishops of Scotland:


Election Statement of the Bishops of Scotland

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

1. We, the Catholic Bishops of Scotland, greet you in the name of the risen Christ. As we continue to celebrate the mystery of Easter, we renew our hope in Jesus Christ as the source of our salvation.

2. Elections to the Scottish Parliament and to Local Authorities are approaching. Each of us is called to make practical political choices for the sake of the common good of the people of Scotland. These choices should be made in conformity with our faith in Christ.

3. The Bishops recognise that many people in politics work conscientiously to achieve good, and we commend them to you. At the same time we cannot fail to notice a conflict of values in society. This conflict of values is reflected in the political sphere in policies, social legislation and regulations which are seriously at odds with the insights and values of our Christian faith and of other faiths.

4. The Bishops remain deeply concerned about legislation which allows abortion, embryo experimentation, easy divorce and civil partnerships. We have always campaigned against poverty, deprivation and injustice. We have raised our voices against a new generation of nuclear weapons. We foresee with apprehension a campaign to legalise euthanasia. We find ourselves having to counter criticism of the very existence of Catholic schools, in large part prompted by an agenda which aims to remove religion from the public sphere.

5. As well as these serious matters, Government has advanced proposals which imply a stealthy and unjust attack on the freedom of religion itself and on the rights of conscience. Earlier this year new regulations were enacted at Westminster which could prevent Catholic adoption agencies from carrying out their work according to the Catholic and Christian vision of family life. Last year, in the face of widespread opposition, the Scottish Parliament extended the right to adopt to unmarried and same sex couples. These dubious innovations are detrimental not just to the good of the Catholic community but to the common good of humanity as a whole. They deserve to be challenged at the ballot box.

6. The coming elections give us an opportunity to vote wisely and to choose the best political representatives for our communities. Many of those standing share our Christian values. There are signs of a desire for an authentic Christian voice in politics serving the common good of people of all faiths and none.

7. Your Bishops urge you to use your vote to support the candidates who offer the best chance of bringing the voice of a truly human and Christian civilisation to the decision-making chambers of our country. We invite you to look beyond the superficially attractive and fashionable to recognise those policies and values which are most in tune with the dignity of the human person and with the common good of our society.

8. To help you vote, we attach with this letter a number of questions you may wish to consider yourself and put to your election candidates.

9. Our faith is in the risen Christ. We are all to witness to Him even in our political choices, in the hope that we can make his love for all men and women more effective in our country!

May God bless you all.