People expect politicians to give priority to marriage and family, according to the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace, which issued a general election memorandum this week.

The commission insisted on the need for measures to help couples carry out their duties at work while respecting their matrimonial and family responsibilities.

These had to be supported by other measures that would allow families to live a decent life and have sufficient means to provide the best possible assistance to all its members, especially in cases of illness.

In its memorandum the commission said the election was not a race or a fight between parties or individuals even if, eventually, there would be a winner and a loser.

It listed a number of recommendations for education, the economy, social sector and the family.

Moral and religious teaching should have a sound place in the educational system and should be updated to answer to the needs of a pluralistic society.

Every effort should be made for all children to have access to religious education and learn to respect people with dif-ferent beliefs.

The commission added that voting was not only a right but an obligation. When citizens voted they were not only participating in the democratic process but were shouldering responsibility for the type of governance they were to have and for the social and economic programme to be implemented.