Canadian bishops urge Catholics to vote guided by conscience, hope, concern for life

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (OSV News) -- Ahead of the April 28 federal election, Canada's bishops called on Catholics to vote with a renewed spirit of hope, guided by conscience and rooted in faith -- with particular concern for the right to life, care for the vulnerable and protection of religious freedom.

Framed within the church's Jubilee Year of Hope, a pastoral letter from the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops encouraged the faithful to reflect prayerfully on the challenges facing the country "with a spirit of hope and a vision for a better future."

"In a free and democratic society, all those eligible to vote have not only a right, but also a responsibility to engage with local candidates and political parties," the bishops wrote in the statement, released April 23.

"We are called to discern which policies best serve the common good -- that which the Church defines as 'the sum of those conditions of … social life whereby people, families and associations more adequately and readily may attain their own perfection,'" the bishops wrote, quoting from "Gaudium et Spes," the Second Vatican Council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.

Among the many issues Catholics were called to consider, the bishops placed particular emphasis on the right to life, stating: "This right is being undermined by the lack of legal protection for the unborn, the ongoing expansion of eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), and the insufficient access to quality palliative care for those who are suffering at the end of life."

The bishops called on Catholics to advocate for society's most vulnerable members: "those living in poverty, victims of human trafficking, individuals suffering from mental illness and addiction, the homeless, and immigrants," each of whom is described as "deserving of both social and legal support."

The bishops also warned of "growing intolerance toward religious communities in Canada," including "threats to remove charitable tax status simply for upholding values rooted in faith that diverge from prevailing secular ideologies."

The election, the bishops wrote, is also an opportunity to support reconciliation and a just society: "We are called to walk together in justice and truth with Indigenous Peoples" and to "examine policies that affect access to education, healthcare, housing, and social services for all." The bishops also urged support for "initiatives that honor the family as the fundamental unit of society and uphold the dignity of every human person, created male and female in the image of God."

"In a time of significant economic uncertainty," the bishops continued, "Canada needs a national economic vision that promotes the common good while respecting international obligations and fostering global solidarity. Economic development must be rooted in justice, stewardship of creation and care for the vulnerable -- both at home and abroad."

The bishops closed by reminding the faithful that political engagement must be grounded in prayer: "After careful reflection on these matters in the light of faith, we are called to form our consciences prayerfully and to express our convictions through our vote."

They encouraged Catholics to "pray for our country, for all political candidates, and for our fellow citizens" and, before casting their ballots, to "pause in personal prayer -- perhaps by reciting the Lord's Prayer -- and ask God's blessing upon those who will be elected to lead our nation."