Brasilia, Brazil, Oct 7, 2010 / 20:04 pm
The director of priestly formation at the Canção Nova Community in Brazil, Father Jose Augusto Souza Moreira, reminded Catholics this week that they cannot vote for candidates who support abortion.
Dilma Rousseff, the Labor Party’s presidential candidate, is the favorite to win the country’s October 31 run-off elections. However, her backing of abortion, which she has recently tried to downplay, has led to a decline in voter support.
“I did not vote nor will I vote” for the Labor Party because “I support life,” said Fr. Souza in a recent homily.
Catholics must not vote for those who support the killing of the unborn, he said, and they must not remain silent when political parties promote abortion. Those who participate in an abortion are automatically excommunicated, he noted, adding, “It doesn’t matter how children come into this world, they have the right to life.”
The founder of the Canção Nova Community, Bishop Jonas Abib, stressed that as Brazilians go to the polls, “We must be faithful to the values of the Church.”
“Each person must vote according to his convictions and in accord with the social teachings of the Church,” he added.