Bishops Cast Voting as a Moral Duty
The appeal came from the the Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP) on the 34th anniversary of the publication of Centesimus Annus, a key social encyclical issued by Pope Saint John Paul II. The 1991 encyclical sets forth principles for democratic governance grounded in human dignity and the common good.

The bishops called on Catholics and all citizens to vote guided by principles of dignity and social justice in voting decisions that would help determine the nation’s future. These values, the bishops added, are part of the teaching core of Saint John Paul II.

Catholic Responsibility and Democratic Values
(As the bishops note, voting isn’t just a civic duty but also a moral duty for every Catholic and anyone who is concerned with the welfare of the whole.) And, reaffirming the Church’s dedication to democracy, the bishops cautioned against political elites who seek power for their own ends or for ideological purposes. Their emphasis was that democracy should prevent small groups in power from capturing the system.

Any democratic regime, the bishops say, should be built on respect for human dignity. Those that do not are likely to pervert democracy and end up in tyranny instead. They insisted on the central value to be given to fundamental rights enumerated by John Paul II: the right to life, to the family, to work and to religious freedom.

Warnings Against the Neglect of Morals in Politics
The bishops warned political parties not to exalt themselves by anything other than moral values, saying: "Freedom that lacks moral truth points towards a moral disorder." If it sacrifices the truth concerning human nature and the common good, democracy ceases to be democracy in the proper sense of the term."

The next presidential election is particularly important as it comes after last year’s change of government, with the centrist coalition ousting the right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which was in power for eight years. Poland is deeply divided politically, prompting debates about democracy, the rule of law and the place of religion in public life.

The polls will open in Poland on May 18 for presidential elections. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held June 1.

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