AMERICA/MEXICO - Referendum on the revocation of the presidential mandate: for the Bishops "it is a decision of great responsibility"

Wednesday, 16 March 2022 referendum   episcopal conferences   politics  

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - On April 10, the National Electoral Institute (INE) called on Mexican citizens to express their opinion in a referendum, as established by the Constitution, on the revocation or confirmation of the mandate of President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador. The promoters of the initiative have collected more than 2.7 million signatures from people who claim to have lost confidence in the work of the current Head of State. The INE announced the question that will be asked of citizens: "Do you agree that the mandate of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of Mexico, be revoked due to loss of confidence (in his actions) or do you want him to continue being President of the Republic until the end of his term? The Mexican bishops, addressing "all members of the Church in Mexico and all people of good will", recall in a letter, the Word of God, the Catechism and the Social Doctrine of the Church, recalling that the baptized are also members of the human community and, according to faith, accept their obligations for the common good and have the right and duty to participate in the political life of their peoples. "This is why, in each electoral process to elect our rulers, the bishops of Mexico have always exhorted Catholics to express their vote by going to the polls, as a citizen's right-duty and in line with our faith".
The letter indicates that the vote asks if Mexicans want the mandate of the President of the Republic, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to end now, or if, on the contrary, they want it to continue until the end of his six-year term, in 2024. Observing that "it is the first time that this democratic exercise has taken place", they continue: "the Mexican Bishops invite you to discern in a climate of prayer, before God, so that each one can decide whether to participate or not and, if so, in what sense he should cast his vote. This is a decision of great responsibility. Let us all seek what is best for Mexico".
The Bishops give thanks to God "for the democratic maturation in Mexico, which allows us to have the National Electoral Institute as the arbiter responsible for each elective process", they pray for those who direct it, as well as for the rulers "who must govern for all, beyond political parties or particular interests, always seeking the unity of the nation, of every state and city, and the good of all, especially those most in need".
Finally, they reiterate that "Mexicans are a people who must remain united, and all the baptized must contribute to this unity ... we must not allow anything or anyone to divide us". The letter signed by the President of the Episcopal Conference on behalf of all the bishops, concludes: "Let us continue to pray for peace in Mexico, in Ukraine and in the whole world. May our Mother of Guadalupe intercede for the unity of our people and for the integral development of all Mexicans". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 16/3/2022)


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