Catholics in Ontario who have the legal right to vote are being called upon as citizens to exercise their right. The Church encourages and reasserts its belief in “the political freedom and responsibility of citizens.” By exercising their right to vote, citizens fulfill their duty of choosing a government and at the same time send a clear signal to the candidates being presented by the political parties.
This campaign period is brief and we need to be proactive in contacting our local candidates. We know that lack of appropriate and affordable housing and access to timely health care are two common concerns.
We offer the following questions as suggestions for you to use when speaking with a candidate. Providing appropriate housing is a critical first step in reducing other social issues.
“The dignity of every person is to be respected at all times. Every government must understand and realize that every human being possesses a transcendent dignity which no one has the right to violate. Consequently, governments must work to ensure that discrimination is eliminated. They must ensure that all people, of whatever origin, religion, socio-economic status or culture are treated equally well. All should be treated with courtesy, compassion and respect.” From Choosing a Government, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario.