Download GE14 Pastoral Letter HERE
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia has written a Pastoral Letter to the People of God on 24 April, 2018.
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT
FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR NATION
“All citizens should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their vote freely to further the common good.”
(Gaudium et spes – Church in the Modern World, n.75).
Dear People of God,
The upcoming 14th General Election presents us, once again, with an opportunity to participate and exercise our democratic right to vote and choose our leaders. Every General Election rekindles in each of us expectations, aspirations and a desire to help shape our nation not just for us but also for the generations to come.
DISCERN
The Church calls on her members to exercise conscientiously the right and duty to vote for the common good of all. Therefore, as Christians, we have a civic and moral duty to engage and participate in the democratic processes of our beloved country. As responsible stewards, there is no room for attitudes of indifference or apathy towards the good governance of our country. Every vote helps set the direction of our country and society for the next five years and it is only proper that we ask for divine assistance and guidance in our choices in order to allow our nation to flourish and continue to prosper.
Every registered voter must ‘turn up and vote’ because it is here that we exercise our responsibility and, once again, stake our claim in securing the future of our country by choosing our leaders. We need to chooseleaders who truly care for all the ‘rakyat’, promote justice and equality, stand up for principles with integrityand work for the common good of citizens and strive to build a cohesive, harmonious and prosperous nation.
REFLECT
Every election is also an opportunity for self-appraisal not only as a nation but more importantly for us as citizens of this country. Therefore, as citizens, we ought to desire the best possible political leaders who are free of corruption so as to help us achieve the common good, and we have a responsibility to participate in the political process by voting. We must cast our vote through prayerful consideration and in accordance with our conscience formed by the Catholic faith.
We, as Catholic citizens, must inform and form our consciences in accordance with the principles of Catholic social teaching. The first and most essential principle of our social teaching is the dignity of everyhuman person and each one’s basic right to life from conception to natural death.
Respect for human dignity is the basis for the fundamental right to life. This is a non-negotiable principle that is supported by our beliefs. Many non-Catholics, too, think a society dedicated to the common good should protect its weakest members. Other principles include the call to community and participation, the centrality of the family, the dignity of work and rights of workers, the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity and the commitment to stewardship of the environment.
ACT
What can I do?
- Exercise my moral duty to vote according to my conscience.
- Encourage my family and friends to also vote.
- Educate myself on issues at hand and be informed of the track record of all candidates and political parties.
- Ensure free and fair elections; volunteer to be a Polling and/or Counting Agent.
- Extend a helping hand — provide transportation to the polling station and whatever assistance needed for the differently abled and other needful individuals, to ensure they have the opportunity to exercise their votes.
PRAY
- Pray for a peaceful and clean election.
- Observe the Day of Prayer and Fasting for the GE14 as declared by the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia on the date/time as specified by your respective dioceses and parishes.
- Respond to and participate in the Call to Prayer being observed by our Christian brothers and sisters of the denominational churches:
- NECF Malaysia: A Call for 21.21.21. Time of Prayer and Fasting for the Church and our Beloved Nation
- Pray without ceasing throughout this Election period.
- Pray that all candidates/political parties/leaders will respect the outcome of the GE14.
May the Holy Spirit, grant us the wisdom and fortitude we need in choosing those who will represent and lead us in our national and state governments. Therefore, we urge you, stand up, uphold the common good of our nation, choose wisely, and your vote will be a blessing for our nation.
We place our country unto the hands of Mother Mary to always guide, protect and bring us abundant graces.
May God bless you all and our country, Malaysia.
Yours devotedly in Christ,
+ Most Reverend Julian Leow, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia
24 April, 2018
Download GE14 Pastoral Letter HERE
马来西亚天主教主教团发出 致天主子民牧函 2018年4月24日
使你们的选票发挥效果促进我国共同好处
“所有公民必须关心，自由利用他们的选票之权利与义务，以促进共同好处。”
《教会在今日世界牧职》宪章，n.75
亲爱的天主子民，
即将举行的第 14 届大选，让我们再度有机会参与并得以行使我们的民主权利去投票及 选出我们的领袖。每次大选重燃我们每个人的期望与理想，以及期盼有助于不只为我 们，也为未来的后代塑造我们的国家。
分辨
教会呼吁她的教友将以良知行使权利与义务，为大家的共同好处去投票。因此，作为 基督徒，我们具有一种公民及道德责任，参加我们可爱的国家的民主操作。作为负责 任的人民，不能对我国的良好管理表示冷淡或持漠不关心的态度。每一票都能决定在 未来 5 年里我们国家与社会的方向，因此我们应祈求上主援助与指示我们如何选择， 俾使我们国家得以发展与继续繁荣。
每位登记的选民必须到场投票，因为这是我们履行我们的责任，同时通过选出我们的 领导，而再次表达我们为保障国家前途的愿望。我们需要选出那些真正关心全体人民， 提倡正义与公平，维护原则与忠诚，以及致力于公民的共同好处，并为建立一个有凝 聚力，和谐与繁荣的国家而奋斗的领袖。
反省
每一次选举对一个国家以及更重要的对作为本国公民的我们，都是一次自我评估的机会。因此，作为公民，我们必须寻求不会贪污的最佳政治领袖，以协助我们达致共同的好处;而我们赋有参与投票政治过程的责任。我们必须经过祈祷与思考，并依据我们由天主教信仰形成的良知去投票。
作为天主教徒的公民，我们必须依据天主教社会指导的原则，形成自己的良知。我们首项与最必要的社会教导原则，就是每个人类的尊严，以及每个人从娘胎开始至自然死亡的生命基本权利。
对人类尊严的尊敬是生命基本权利的基础。这是我们的信仰所支持，无可讨价还价的原则。许多非天主教徒也认为，一个致力于共同好处的社会，必需保护其弱势成员。
其他的原则包括合群的必要及参与;以家庭为本;工人的工作尊严与权利;团结与从属的原则以及对管理环境所负的承担。
行动
我能够做什么?
- 凭自己的良知，行使我的道德义务去投票。
- 鼓励我的家人与朋友也去投票。
- 增进自己对当前问题的了解，并获取所有候选人与政党表现的资讯。
- 为确保自由与公平的选举，自愿去做投票及/或算票的代理人。
- 伸出援手，为需要帮助的人提供前往投票站的交通以及其他需要的帮助，以确保他们有机会去行使他们的投票权。
祈祷
- 为和平及干净的选举祈祷。
- 遵照马来西亚主教团宣布，而于各教区与堂区所定的日期/时间，为第 14 届大选祈 祷及守斋。
- 响应及参加基督教会—马来西亚全国福音联合会 NECF 的兄弟姐妹，参与为教会与我 们可爱的国家举行的祈祷及守斋
- 在此选举期间，作不停歇的祈祷。
- 为所有候选人/政党/领袖祈祷，以期他们遵守第 14 届大选的结果。
祈求圣神赐给我们所需的智慧与毅力，去选举将代表及领导我们组成国家及州政府的人士。因此，我们促请你们大家挺身而出，维护我们国家的共同好处，在大选中作明智的选择，你们的选票将是对我们国家的祝福。
我们把我们的国家交付在圣母玛利亚的手上，愿她时常指导，保护我们，并带给我们满满的恩宠。
祈求上主降福你们以及我们的国家马来西亚。
马来西亚天主教主教团主席
吉隆坡总主教廖炳坚 启
Download GE14 Pastoral Letter HERE
Message from Archbishop Simon Poh
Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching
Malaysian 14th General Election
Dear Catholics,
Every five years, we have the opportunity to democratically elect our leaders and government. I call on all Catholics to exercise our Christian stewardship. It is our moral duty and right as citizens of our beloved country Malaysia to vote wisely and responsibly. We will be placing the future of our nation – our future – into the hands of men and women whom we are electing into the government for the next five years.
1. Exercise our Christian stewardship and moral duty to vote.
By casting our votes, we hold our government and candidate accountable to walk the talk; to fulfill all promises made to the rakyat; to work for the common good and well-being of all Malaysians; to defend religious freedom for all, irrespective of race, religion and ethnicity.
2. Discern the following before you cast your vote
Consider the Political Party and the integrity of the Individual Candidate on development, citizen’s rights on freedom of religion, welfare and concern for our people, etc.
3. Pray and Fast for GE 14
(a) Personally: Offer up prayers and fasting from NOW until the Sunday after election.
(b) As a Community: Pray together with friends and other Christians.
Join the Day of Prayer on Friday 27th April in your parish church.
4. Cast your vote wisely on Wednesday, 9th May 2018, according to your conscience before our Lord.
An invitation to pray unceasingly:
As peace-loving citizens in Sarawak and Malaysia, I exhort all Catholics to pray unceasingly for free, fair and clean Election.
Begin NOW before the GE 14, during the Election and right until the Sunday after the Election. May we always respond with God’s love and peace to preserve the peace and harmony in our nation.
Act justly. Love tenderly.
Walk humbly with our Lord.
(Micah 6:8)
Download GE14 Pastoral Letter HERE