Urge Voters to Choose Candidates With Concern for Poor
NEW DELHI, India, MARCH 5, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The bishops of India are urging voters to elect officials who will uphold democratic principles and the rights of the poor and marginalized. A statement released Monday by the secretary of the Indian bishops' conference, Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, appealed to voters to "select and promote candidates without any criminal record or background and having the genuine concern for the youth, women and particularly for the poor and marginalized at heart. "India's electoral committee announced Monday that the country's general elections will be held April 16 till May 13. Given the geography of the country, several weeks are required for the 671 million voters to choose their officials. The bishops appealed to the citizens to vote for officials who will uphold the constitutional commitment to "religious, racial, cultural and linguistic pluralism," and who will "protect by all means the right to life in all ...