3 criteria to illuminate social commitment to elections in Argentina

Before a new electoral process in Argentina, where this year the legislative authorities are chosen at the national, provincial and municipal level, the bishop of San Francisco, Mons. Sergio Osvaldo Buenanueva, shared his reflections on the importance of participation in the elections and recalled that we should not disregard the common good, encouraging to vote with conscience and freedom.

In a column entitled “Reflections for this election year that Argentines live”recognized that participation in the elections, which are developed on different dates according to the calendar of each province, “seems to decrease.”

In that context, although he clarified that “the Church does not impose on Catholics the duty to vote,” he said that “it does encourage them to participate in the construction of the most just possible society,” appealing to each person’s awareness and taking into account that “we cannot disregard the common good, especially the most vulnerable.”

“The vote is a moral act that involves consciousness and freedom. As a citizen and Catholic, I consider suffrage as a tool to achieve the common good, like other spaces of citizen participation: family and school, parish and neighborhood, clubs, work cooperatives, companies or other social organizations,” he listed.

Three criteria to illuminate social commitment

In that sense, he shared three criteria to “enlighten our social commitment.”

First criterion: representatives with preparation and honesty

First, “by choosing our representatives for Parliament we have to think of people with preparation and talent, criteria and attitudes to strengthen peace, social friendship and coexistence through the delicate trade of elaborating fair laws,” he said.

“There is no freedom and development without solid political institutions that ensure the rule of law and the empire of the law for all,” he said.

The prelate said that “this translates into democracy and republic, with a clear foundation: the Constitution. But also, and in a way, in a more deep way: in the honesty and virtue of the men and women who propose as candidates.”

Second criterion: Attention to the most fragile

As a second criterion, and in the place of disciple of Jesus, he emphasized the most fragile: “The poor, those who suffer and those who are out of the social, economic and technological transformations ongoing.”

“After 42 years of democracy, we have an immense social debt that forces us to work for a comprehensive economic development that benefits everyone,” he said, and although he acknowledged that there are different legitimate visions about the role of the State or the private initiative, he stressed that “in democracy we can choose the option we consider better” because “there are no absolute dogmas.”

Third criterion: Interior freedom when voting

The third criterion that Mons. Buenanueva chose to share, as a complement to the previous ones, was a call to “vote with inner freedom.”

“The electoral climate is usually irrational and a little crazy, with radicalized positions that present the options as an apocalyptic struggle between good and evil. Reality shows us that, beyond the results, we have to continue working patience, perseverance, intelligence and even with good humor,” he admitted.

“Yesterday’s adversary is today a fellow citizen, a neighbor with whom we share a suffered present and many opportunities for meeting and construction. Therefore, I ask God the grace of inner freedom,” he summarized.

Finally, as bishop, in his fundamental mission of announcing Jesus Christ and following the Gospel, he recalled that “he came to this world, where wheat and tares grow, and identified with the poor and small.”

“With endearing parables, he told us about the Father and his saving action in the world: a God who creates and cares for, heals and resurrects. In his Easter of Cruz and Resurrection he showed us the trinitarian face of God love. And so he taught us to love how he loved us, to forgive and seek reconciliation,” he said.

“That is the wheat that is growing and that will reach its fullness in heaven. That is the truth that will shine forever. Thus hope grows,” he concluded.

While in some Argentine provinces, elections for the renewal of provincial deputies and senators have already been developed, and municipal councilors; There are others that still did not celebrate the elections.

Regardless of the renewal of provincial authorities, on October 26, the Argentines will go to the polls to vote for the renewal of 24 benches of the Senate of the Nation and 127 of the Chamber of Deputies.