European bishops urge voter turnout in EP elections

The Bishops' Conferences of the European Community have urged voters to participate in next month's European parliament elections, recalling that the accession of 10 new member states on May 1 signified that Europe had finally overcome the divisions inherited from the accords of Yalta.

The appeal is contained in a statement signed by 20 European bishops, including Archbishop Joseph Mercieca.

"In both east and west, this project of European integration is a response to the war and totalitarianism that has scarred Europe's recent history. By voting in this election, each one of us will benefit from the privilege of peace and democracy that was denied to our forebears. It is a privilege still denied to millions of others around the globe," the bishops said.

The bishops said the legitimacy and authority of the members of the next European parliament to represent the values and interests of EU citizens would depend on the commitment of those citizens to go out and vote between June 10 and 13 this year. "For this reason," they said, "we all have both an interest and a moral duty to participate in the European elections".

The statement made it clear that the European elections should not be regarded as a popularity test for national governments. "We encourage Catholics, and voters of all faiths and none, to inform themselves about the candidates and the manifestos of the political parties, and to make their decision according to what they promise to do as members of the European parliament for the next five years," it said.

The bishops said that as Christians, voters can draw on the lessons of the Gospel and the rich heritage of the Church's social teaching to guide them. They listed the following issues at stake in this election and suggested that candidates should be asked the following questions:

Respect for life: Will the European parliament promote respect for human life at all stages and guarantee it in the funding of scientific research?

Safeguarding creation: Will the future MEPs ensure that legislation preserves the world God has created for us and for future generations rather than serve short-term goals?

The common good: How will the next parliament balance the challenge of globalisation with the basic values of solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable?

Support for the family: How will MEPs balance respect for diversity with support for the family founded on marriage as the basic unit of society?

Education, culture and youth: Will the future MEPs promote the right of parents to choose freely the education of their children, without economic discrimination and according to their convictions, in support of the action of member states?

Welcoming strangers: Will the new parliament continue the commitment of its predecessor to ensuring the humane and fair treatment of refugees and migrants?

Peace, security and freedom: Will MEPs support policies that balance the need for security with the respect of human dignity and human rights? Will they encourage actions that address the root causes of terrorism, promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts and uphold international law?

Justice for the world's poor: How will the next parliament ensure the EU implements what the Church calls the "preferential option for the poor" and respects the dignity of people in the developing world?

Honesty in public life: What efforts will future MEPs take to uphold a code of ethical conduct and to guarantee honesty, transparency and probity both in the rest of the EU system and in their own ranks?

Unity in diversity through subsidiarity: How will the European parliament promote the development of a true European democracy while at the same time respecting the cultural, social and political diversity of the union and the principle of subsidiarity?

Dialogue with religions: What will the new parliament do to engage in a dialogue that recognises the specific identity and contribution of religious communities for society as a whole?

The Christian heritage: The bishops recall the proposal they made with other Churches for an open and inclusive reference to Europe's Christian heritage in the preamble.

The bishops said that only by voting in these elections would Catholics be able to help realise the dream of Pope John Paul II of a European Union, "of men and women committed to bearing the fruit of these values, putting themselves at the service of all for the sake of a Europe of the human person, in which the face of God is reflected".