Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) – “As Bishops, it is not our place to adopt political attitudes. Rather, it is our role to illumine Catholic consciences with the doctrine of the Gospel, encouraging them to make responsible and conscientious decisions before God and society,” the Bishops of Ecuador said in a statement issued yesterday, June 28, 2008, following Congress’s approval of the new version of the country’s Constitution. In fact, Congress approved the draft that is scheduled to be put to vote in a referendum on September 28. The Bishops supported their arguments above all with statements from the Second Vatican Council where it states that “it is a matter of justice that the Church always be permitted to preach the faith with authentic freedom, teach its social doctrine and give its moral judgement, even on matters concerning politics, when the fundamental rights of the person or the salvation of souls is implied.”
While there are several positive statements concerning the “centrality of the person in society, the economy, education, and health, with an emphasis on support for the poor,” there is not enough “mention of the processes to be followed in fighting poverty and corruption.” However, the largest problem is found in the fundamental statements concerning abortion, the family, education, and religious freedom.
Thus, the Bishops mention that these points are not negotiable; they demand a certain response on the part of believers and people of good will. They indicate four main points on which they differ, “aware that this rejection is supported by the 800,000 signatures presented to Congress, as well as the brethren of the Evangelical Church and other Ecuadorians of good will” (see Fides 27/5/2008 and 15/5/2008).
The first point is that the human person’s existence precedes that of the State, i.e. “the State is at the service of the person and society, not persons and society at the service of the State,” something that is not clearly indicated in the new Constitution. Moreover, the Bishops say, “the right to life beginning at conception is not clearly stated,” and “without mentioning the term ‘abortion,’ the Constitutional draft leaves the door open for a suppression of the new human life present in the womb of a mother.” There is also “an attack on the family, the nucleus of society, and the common good,” as the new Constitution “perverts the family icon by rejecting the existence of a ‘family type [model]’ and substitutes it with ‘types of families.’ From there, the family can come to mean the union of two persons of the same sex.” Lastly, there is the issue of education, as “parental rights and acknowledgement of freedom of education are contradicted when the State appropriates the right to determine what can and cannot be taught.” In fact, “in considering education as a public service, particular education is considered as a mere concession of the State, not as an expression of parental rights.”
The Bishops have not said all there is to say in this analysis of these important points for the Christian conscience and thus, “every citizen with the right to vote should reflect on these and other reasons, invoking divine wisdom.” They conclude their statement by reminding all citizens that in the referendum, they will be “just as responsible as the lawmakers themselves in regards to the judicial and social framework that will rule Ecuador in the future.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/7/2008)
