AMERICA/COLOMBIA - The Bishops: "The power of hope must push us to participate responsibly in the democratic process"

Saturday, 21 May 2022 elections   bishops  

Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - "The Catholic Bishops of Colombia, on the occasion of the presidential elections, invite all Colombians to participate actively and consciously in the upcoming gatherings": this is how the message of the Bishops' Conference begins in view of the first round of the presidential elections which will take place on Sunday 29 May. The text, which bears the date of May 19, 2022, is signed by Monsignor Luis José Rueda Aparicio, Archbishop of Bogotá and President of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia - CEC; Monsignor Ómar Alberto Sánchez Cubillos, Archbishop of Popayán and Vice-President of the CEC; and Monsignor Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá and Secretary General of the CEC.
"Distinguishing, weighing and valuing the different options for exercising this right is what we call the art of the democratic search for the common good", write the bishops, stressing that "today more than ever, we need this ability to reflect on the reality in which we live and to recognize the root causes of our social ills, without neglecting to look at the great potential that we have to progress together". They therefore reiterate: "The power of hope must push us to participate responsibly in the current democratic process". To answer the question "in which Colombia do we want to live tomorrow?" the Bishops invite participation, overcoming "the pessimism and fear that lead us to be constantly suspicious of each other". "The shared dream of a better country for all allows us to regain the confidence of citizens in the institutions, if we manage to entrust their leadership to the people we consider most willing to serve the common good". In the conclusion, they invite everyone to participate, because "voting is the most powerful tool, without violence, that a democratic society has to determine its future; when we vote, let our voice be heard". They finally quote a statement by Evangelii Gaudium (220) which also gives its title to the message: "Let us remember that being a faithful citizen is a virtue and that participation in political life is a moral obligation". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 21/5/2022)


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