EU and local elections - diocese offers guidelines
While stressing that people are "clearly free to have the political views they choose" - Church leaders in the Midlands issued the following guidelines today in the run-up to the European and local elections. They said: Voters should be confident of each candidate's support for these values before deciding how do vote. Christians believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore: Does the candidate, recognize the innate dignity and equal value of all human persons? Can you be confident that the person you vote for is able to represent, and make judgments on behalf of, all the local community, regardless of their race, colour or faith? Will the person elected work for the common good of all, not just one section of like- minded Individuals? Will their policies promote harmony, justice and cohesion within the community, so that no individual or group is marginalized, or treated unjustly? Do their policies feed on the fears of one group over another? How will their policies promote the rich diversity of cultures living within the community? Do their policies serve to promote good race relations, respecting the culture, language and faith of all? The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, added: "I would not expect anyone who did not support these values to be given a permanent position in a Catholic School. This is because a teacher in a Catholic school must support the values and ethos of that school." Source: Archdiocese of Birmingham