Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
La Paz (Agenzia Fides) – "We, the Catholic Bishops of the Church in Bolivia, want to convey our words of hope and guidance to all Bolivians involved in the upcoming election process, so that this upcoming democratic event will lead to better days of unity and fraternal harmony." Thus begins the document sent to Fides by the Bishops' Conference of Bolivia, saying: "We recognize the democratic vocation of our people and we invite you to deepen and strengthen civic values and the principles of every constitutional state, to ensure the inclusion with participation, administration with responsibility, and autonomy in unity."
The document recalls that at the election of regional governors and mayors, there is certainly a need for an election campaign, but within the margins of respect, presenting programs for the common good, without letting it become irresponsible propaganda. The bishops continue:"We want to encourage people to concerned with the proposals of the candidates to exercise their vote responsibly."
The bishops then respond to the authorities and the leaders of the mass media: "We urge the authorities to do their best to ensure free elections, peaceful and transparent. We hope that the media, which play an important role both during the election campaign and on election day, may do their duty with professionalism and ethics, thereby contributing to an atmosphere of serenity and mutual respect. "The paper ends with this invitation for Easter: "We call on Catholics to give public testimony of their faith, sharing in the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week and Easter, which helps us to relive the mystery of the Son of God who died and rose to save us, to free us from the slavery of sin and death. This should be the deeper motivation of believers to go and vote responsibly and wisely in the election to be held on Easter Sunday, as part of being a good Christian is being a good citizen." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/03/2010)
