October 2013
Message of the
Honduran Bishops Conference
“Choose among the men of the people some who are worthy and
who fear God, men of integrity and who don’t let themselves be bribed and you
will put them before the people are heads of a thousand, of a hundred, of
fifty, or of the. They will work as judges for your people a every hour.”
(Exodus 21-22a)
1. OUR INTENTIONS
1. The Bishops of the Honduras Bishops Conference, meeting
in an ordinary session, direct this message, first of all, to all the Catholic
communities of our dioceses and also to the entire population of Honduras,
moved by the desire that these general elections of November 23, 2013, may be a
decisive step to strengthen the political institutions which may guarantee a
life together that is just, free, and which promotes the dignity of every one.
2. October 11, 2012, we published the pastoral letter
entitled “Reflections on the Current Electoral Process in Honduras.” There we
were declaring our intention to “collaborate in the strengthening of the
country’s democratic system.” Now, with this present message, we reaffirm the
same commitment and the present significance of those reflections.
II. A GLANCE BEARING
HOPE
3. In these moments, and together with the majority of the
population, we would like to be able to clear up so many doubts: Will the
elections be transparent? Will they be carried out in the country and without
violence? Will they help us get out of the crisis which envelop the country?
Will the results be accepted? etc.
Despite these uncertainties, we see certain signs which we
could consider positive in civil society, in the political parties, and in the
institutions. [There are] signs that, although the weight of some incorrigible
politicians continues to carry weight, [as well as] confrontation, discrediting
of one’s opponent, fraud, cheating, and the manipulation of the simple, these
are giving way to good sense and maturity in the political arena. Let us consider some of these signs:
4. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), although it shows
certain internal weaknesses, maintains continuing activity of consultation and
seeking to establish the best mechanisms which permit it to anticipate whatever
scenario which could call into question the results of the elections.
5. The presidential candidates has shown political maturity
by agreeing, on Agusut 20 last year, before the authorities of the Supreme
Electoral Council (TSE) and the National Registry of Persons (RNP] a “Political Ethics Pact” which obliges
them to respect the results of the coming elections and to work with impartiality, responsibility, and
transparency. Likewise, it commits them to carry out an electoral campaign
“ based in ethics principles, in
transparency, and in respect for the Constitution and electoral legislation.”
6. Various international institutions have shown an interest
in sending observers to monitor the electoral process. Also, diverse Honduran
civil society organizations are preparing to exercise functions of observation
and social auditing.
Likewise, some universities and civil society platforms are
holding discussion forums with the candidates which serve to awaken the
interest of the population toward their proposals for governing. This is an
excellent opportunity for the candidates to listen to the people.
7. Members of the Catholic Church are present in all these
platforms; and also, through their own personal and community channels, the
Catholic Church joins the effort to see that the elections are transparent. One
example of this is the “Political
Educational Campaign” which Caritas of Honduras is carrying out, directed
at the entire population. In that Campaign special attention is given to youth
who are joining the great collective who have the right to exercise their vote,
in such as way that they participate actively “before, during, and after” the
elections.
III. OUR PASTORAL
VISION
8 – We look with deep sorrow and compassion on the severe
deterioration of health, education, work, and security. We urge the candidates
to show their closeness to the suffering which this deterioration creates and
to present clear proposals, with believable budgets to change these situations.
The achievement [conquest] of power should never be to abuse it, but to use it
for the good of all together. We especially urge the Catholic candidates to
commit themselves, based on a good understanding of the principles of the
Church’s social Teaching, to always be
attentive to situations of injustice and sorrow. To turn back poverty in all
its manifestations is the primary task of whatever government.
9 – Pope John Paul II affirmed: “The spirit of service is a fundamental element in the exercise of political power.
Only this spirit of service, together with the necessary competence and
efficiency, can make "transparent" or "clean" the activity
of persons in public life which is justly demanded by the people. To accomplish
this requires a full scale struggle and determination to overcome such
temptations, as the recourse to disloyalty and to falsehood, the waste of
public funds for the advantage of a few and with the intention of creating a
mass of dependent people, and the use of ambiguous and illicit means for
acquiring, maintaining and increasing power at any cost.”
(Christifideles laici, 42)
10 – We believe it very necessary, at this moment in the
history of Honduras, that these elections be, in the popular way of speaking,
an authentic “civic festival,” so that we can move from the celebration of the
general elections to the celebration of life in which the DIGNITY OF THE PERSON
and their RIGHTS are respected and in which the COMMON GOOD is taken on as the
ethical operative criterion of every form of government. Therefore, the
elections should not be seen as an end, but only as a means so that ours is
truly a democracy.
11- The whole Honduran people, not only the political
parties, ought to recover their sovereignty and their role as protagonist in
public and political life. “It is everyone’s responsibility to maintain the
governability of the country in such a way that the Honduran people can express
itself as subject of its own destiny, can organize itself to find alternatives
to its problems, and can participate in taking decisions, investigation,
control, and carrying out governmental affairs. A profound and enduring change
cannot happen if all the population does not participate in this.” (Pastoral
Letter “By the paths of hope,” no.
55)
12 – In our earlier pastoral letter about the electoral
process, we emphasized the inadequate and negative results of absenteeism. It
is because this means abandoning the right of participation and lets democracy
rest in the hands of a minority which, backed up by the legitimacy of the
electoral process, is imposed on all the people. Voting we acquire the moral
force to demand that the elected authorities fulfill their obligations, which
are much more important than their promises. We trust that the institutions of
the state which have the responsibility to duly document the population [with their identity cards] do it in in the
time necessary to permit all citizens to exercise their vote.
IV – OUR PROPOSALS
13 – We ask all those persons who have the right to vote to
exercise their vote conscientiously,
that is, with understanding [consciousness] of the reality, having informed
themselves about the candidates and after having reflected and prayer about
what is best for Honduras.
14 - We trust that the people will know how to choose their representatives among the candidates
of proven integrity, who live and defend democratic principles and the ethical
values of sincerity, laboriousness [diligence at working], honesty,
transparency, respect for others’ opinion, and a clear commitment to the common
good, especially the good of the population which is impoverished and
marginalized. [They would be] candidates who live more concerned about the
future of coming generation than in the result of the next elections.
15 – We further ask that, for the good of Honduras, that
they vote freely, that is, without conditioning
or embezzling their votes, neither by
bribes nor by pressures or threats, not even by simple custom. May they vote
for those who show a better understanding and closeness to the reality, for
those who dedicate more time and energy in explaining their proposals, having
given proof of their honesty and commitment to justice as well as respect for
the democratic system.
16 – We urge the electorate to be vigilant and ready to detect and denounce whatever fraud or illegal
practice that could happen to alter the transparency and the result of the
elections.
17- We urge the Christian communities to take advantage of
this opportunity which the elections offer us to give a true testimony of participation, of
conciliation, of unity and respect, above all party affiliations.
V- OUR CONFIDENCE IN
THE FUTURE
18 – We trust [are confident] that an electoral process well
carried out and with a high level of citizen participation, may lead to a
social and political reorganization which allows for “the elaboration of a national inclusive project at the service of a
democracy which is pluralistic, participative, just, responsible, respectful of
human dignity, open to dialogue [dialogante], promoting the common good, and
defending human rights – [and that] this be the style of life and of democratic
culture for our people.” (Pastoral letter “Reflections related to the
current electoral process in Honduras,” no. 26)
19 – Participation in the construction of a society that is
just and lives in solidarity is an ongoing task. As Catholics and in the light
of faith, we recognize the demands of a “political charity” which we have to
live all the time. (See “Lumen Fidei” nos. 50, 54) We urge all Catholics not
only to participate in the electoral process but also to continue to promote
and participate habitually and actively in the community organizations [patronatos], parent associations,
unions, professional and business associations, and in all initiatives that
promote the participation and defense of the dignity of every citizen.
20 – We trust [are confident] that if we achieve an
electoral process based on the values that we have mention, it is more feasible
to correct, at the international level, the image that many nations have of
Honduras as a country that is violent and ungovernable. En this globalized
world we can not underrate the respect which is our right [por parte del concierto de naciones] on the part of the concert of
nations at the regional as well as continental and intercontinental levels. An,
above all, there will be the personal and community satisfaction to have
contributed, by our participation, in maintaining the hope for the future for
that “Rule of Law, sovereign, constituted by a republic that is free,
democratic, and independent,” which is Honduras, as it is defined in the first
article of our Constitution.
21 – With faith we ask the Lord to illumine our minds and
hearts so that we act with honesty and dignity in the face of an event which is
vital for our fatherland. May the Lord give us a sense of responsibility to act
thinking, above all, of a future which ir dignified, safe, and peaceful for
children and young people which have the right to receive the best inheritance
possible: a Honduras reconciled and at peace.
Holy Mary, [Virgin] of Suyapa, intercede for Honduras before
your Son and bless us with your motherly protection.
Comayagüela, October 9, 2013
Honduras Bishops Conference
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The original Spanish can be found here: http://www.caritashonduras.org/images/stories/Documentos/2013/Octubre/mensaje%20de%20la%20conferencia%20episcopal%20de%20honduras-oct.pdf
The document in non-PDF format can be found here: http://juancitohonduras.blogspot.com/2013/10/mensaje-de-la-conferencia-episcopal-de.html
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The original Spanish can be found here: http://www.caritashonduras.org/images/stories/Documentos/2013/Octubre/mensaje%20de%20la%20conferencia%20episcopal%20de%20honduras-oct.pdf
The document in non-PDF format can be found here: http://juancitohonduras.blogspot.com/2013/10/mensaje-de-la-conferencia-episcopal-de.html
