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Westminster Interfaith Newsletter
Issue 66 – May 2010
Choosing the Common Good and the elections
No doubt, you will be aware of the statement made by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales entitled Choosing the Common Good. It was published in preparation for the forthcoming elections and deals with important themes that affect our society right now. The document is an update of an earlier document: The Common Good, which came out in 1996 prior to the elections then and presented key elements of Catholic Social Teaching.
Choosing the Common Good deals with many current issues including a section on faith communities, not just Catholics but all faiths. The document states quite clearly that faith communities are one of the main pillars of support for the common good. Protection of the right to religious freedom is of paramount importance because this right 'arises from the fact that the human person is, by nature, a spiritual being, with a longing for love, for truth, for beauty, for happiness'. Neglecting or constraining the religious and spiritual aspects of our life does little for the common good. It goes on to say that partnerships between Governments and faith communities should be mutually respectful permitting them to act with integrity in the provision of public services for the common good as well as allowing them to play their part in the formulation of public policy in order to make a proper contribution to the life of our democracy.
Recently, the Bishops' Conference issued a shorter document, based on the Bishops' statement called Benchmark. It includes issues and questions for Parliamentary candidates, which all faith communities will find useful.
Valuing Life: What does respect for life mean to you? Do all lives have the same value – older people, the infirm, the severely disabled, the unborn?
Family Life: What will you do for marriage and the family? What practical measures will you take to encourage and support stable family life and the institution of marriage?
Migration: What beliefs and values underpin your approach to migration? How will you show them in practice?
The world's poor and the environment: What do you think is our responsibility to the poor in this country and overseas? What is our responsibility to safeguard and protect the environment?
Freedom of religion and its practice: What do you think is the place of religion in society?
Ask your parliamentary candidate the above questions, if you get the chance. Don't forget to vote.
Jon
