(CCN) — Alberta’s Catholic bishops are urging Catholics to keep referendum disagreements from becoming occasions to demean one another or question another person’s faith, saying their responsibilities to each other will endure whatever the outcome.
In a pastoral letter dated Oct. 1 and posted Oct. 2, the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, the bishops invited Catholics to approach the Oct. 19 referendum with “prayer, an informed conscience, and sincere concern for their neighbours.”
The bishops made clear that the Church remains independent of political parties and systems while addressing the moral questions that arise in public life. The lay faithful have a particular responsibility to bring Christian wisdom and sound judgment to these matters, they said.
Love of neighbour and respect for human dignity must guide decisions and dealings with those who hold differing views, the bishops said.
The common good requires respect for fundamental rights, access to the necessities of life, and peace grounded in justice. Decisions concerning health care, education, and public resources should promote equitable access and responsible stewardship for future generations, they said.
The bishops said more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome those seeking safety and a livelihood. Public authorities also have a responsibility to regulate immigration for the common good, while newcomers have duties toward the society receiving them.
Legitimate concerns about resources and access to public services must be addressed in ways that respect human dignity and avoid turning any segment of the population into an object of resentment or blame, they said. Those uncertain about their place in society should find welcome and pastoral care within parishes.
The principles of solidarity and subsidiarity can guide reflection on Alberta’s relationship with the wider Canadian community, the bishops said. Solidarity calls for accepting responsibility for one another, including those beyond Alberta. Subsidiarity respects the responsibilities families and local communities can fulfil themselves, with support from larger bodies when needed, as well as the proper roles of different levels of government.
These principles encourage cooperation and accountability, they said. Discernment must also include attentive listening to Indigenous peoples, respect for their rights, and a continuing commitment to reconciliation.
The bishops proposed several questions for reflection:
- How will this decision affect others, particularly those who are most vulnerable?
- Have I considered the good of others alongside my own interests?
- To what extent might fear, anger or resentment be influencing my judgment?
- What kind of society or community are we building for future generations through this choice?
Catholics may reach different judgments about the practical means of advancing the common good, they said. “Such differences do not diminish our shared obligation to uphold human dignity and remain faithful to the moral teaching of the Church.”
The bishops called for patient listening, truthful speech and respect for others, saying families and parishes should be places where difficult questions can be discussed with charity.
“Differences of judgment must not become occasions to demean another person or call their faith into question,” they said. “Whatever the outcome, our responsibilities to one another will endure.”
They encouraged all eligible Catholics to participate with a prayerful commitment to the common good and asked communities to pray for voters, public officials and everyone whose lives may be affected.
“May our participation bear witness to our hope in Christ and His call to be peacemakers.”
