The six point religious guide to voting
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka led by its present President Bishop of Badulla Winston Fernando issued, on Thursday, the A-Z guide on the infallible way to vote a Presidential candidate to office, a non-political message that would have no doubt won full marks from both God and Mammon for its sagacity and the non-partisan, independent approach it advocates when determining one’s final choice.
There was no mystery surrounding the six point guide to follow to choose the next best President of Lanka
1. "Given the brutal attacks suffered by innocent people on Easter Sunday we also urge our leaders to commit themselves to ensuring that religious extremism and racism are eradicated and peaceful coexistence among all ethnic and religious groups in our country is vigorously pursued. "We expect the future President and the Government to formulate National policies regarding: Religious Freedom, National Security, Health, Education, Economy and Responsible Management of Natural Resources meant to serve succeeding generations, to ensure sustainable development of the country.
3. We earnestly appeal to all future political leaders to guarantee justice for all citizens who are equal before the law irrespective of their status or positions. "Corruption has been the root cause for the setbacks in the development of the country resulting in suffering and poverty of many a people. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the future President and leaders to take drastic measures to eradicate corruption at all levels.
"The Church teaches that all citizens should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their vote freely to further the common good. Accordingly the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka, exhort all Catholics and citizens to exercise their sacred and democratic right to cast their vote at the forthcoming election.
"In the run up to the elections we observe unhealthy trends of violation of election laws. We therefore appeal to the Presidential Candidates, their supporters, the social media and all authorities responsible in conducting the elections to strictly adhere to the Election Laws and ensure a free and fair election to safeguard the sovereignty of the people in view of this election.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka is the supreme body representing the Catholic Church of Sri Lanka. Its members are President and
Bishop of Badulla Rev. D. J. Winston S. Fernando, Bishop of Batticaloa Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponniah, Bishop of Chilaw Rev. Dr. D. Valence Mendis, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Archbishop of Colombo, Bishop of KandyRev. Dr. J. Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kurunegala Rev. Dr. Harold A. Perera, O.M.I. Bishop of Anuradhapura Rev. Dr. Norbert M. Andradi, O.S.B. Bishop of Ratnapura Rev. Cletus C. Perera, Bishop of Galle Rev. Dr. Raymond K. Wickramasinghe, Bishop of Trincomalee Rev. Dr. Noel C. Emmanuel, Bishop of JaffnaRev. Dr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, Bishop of Mannar Rev. Dr. F. L. Emmanuel Fernando, Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dr. Maxwell G. Silva andAuxiliary Bishop of Colombo Rev. Dr. J. D. Anthony.
Perhaps it’s a leaf of the Bishops’ Bible that should be taken by the Mahanyakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters of the Siam Nikaya and the Amarapura and the Ramanna Nikayas and the Hindu and Muslim clergy when it comes to granting spiritual guidance on how to decide who is the best on offer.