AMERICA/EL SALVADOR - The Church makes a call to participate in the city and legal elections on Sunday, January 18: “all of us are protagonists and subjects in politics.”

San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops' Conference of El Salvador (CEDES) has made an announcement asking all citizens to participate in the vote to be held on Sunday, 18 for city and legislative representatives, as it is their duty and right and as it would be a “grave irresponsibility” not to vote without a just cause.
“We should see, before God, what is best for the people of El Salvador and express our opinion. Every vote counts,” the Bishops said. The document also establishes that the aware, free, and responsible participation of citizens in voting is an essential part of democracy: “Voting with responsibility is the adequate manner of taking up our condition as citizens, because all of us are protagonists and subjects in politics.”
Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador explains that these election are taking place in the midst of a national and international situation that is marked by a pessimism that has arisen as a result of the insecure state of the global economy, which affects “the weakest.” The Bishops of El Salvador even wrote a message to the priests of the country reminding them of their responsibility as citizens, on November 1, 2008. The Archbishop repeated his invitation to the clergy to exercise their vote, while clarifying their need to abstain from active participation in politics. “The goal of the Bishops' Message is to illumine the consciences of our compatriots from a vision of faith and according to the social teaching of the Church. We are moved by the desire to contribute to a more peaceful coexistence in the El Salvadorian community, on foundations of solidarity, justice, and quest for the common good,” he explained.
The Archbishop of San Salvador also lamented the violence occurring in the country, in the midst of the electoral campaign, and reminds the various contending groups in the campaign to remain “civilized” and the recognize “the rights of others to hold opinions which differ from our own.” He also also asked all parties to promote a tension-free climate so that the elections could “take place in peace and tranquility, order and respect towards others' opinions.”
About 4.2 million El Salvadorians are headed to the polls on January 18 to elect 84 members of Congress, 262 mayors, and 20 representatives of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). On March 15, they are scheduled to elect a new President of the Republic. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2009)