Voting with your Conscience08.05.10
Aired on May 8, 2010
Narration by Ptr RG Foncardas
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Program Transcript – MP3 Audio
VOTING WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE
As the election period draws to a close, we are being courted one last time by our candidates and their supporters. We want to vote wisely. We want to consider the future of our country carefully. Most of all, we want to be responsible in exercising our sacred duty to choose our leaders.
Some of us may have already made up our minds. Some of us may still be undecided about whom to choose. Tomorrow is the last Sunday before the polls. It is time for God to speak to our hearts as we stop and reflect before the excitement of polling day.
We have said that voting is a matter of conscience. The conscience of each individual must be respected by society. Members of religious communities are especially tasked with upholding their convictions. Nowhere was this more vividly demonstrated than in the Second World War, when brave men and women like Dietrich Bonhoeffer became martyrs for conscience.
In any situation, and specially in matters of public importance such as choosing our leaders. We must protect our consciences against popular pressure. We must fight to remember that apparent winners of the surveys will not necessarily be the sure winners at the polls. After all, the surveys reflects only a small percentage of the voting public whom may not be guided by christian values or wisdom. It is true that culture influences conscience, but building a mature democracy demands that we obey the true call of our minds and conscience even when it means that we go against the tide of culture
So how do we vote with our conscience? We must first think carefully about the characteristics that are possessed by good national leaders. Over the past few days, we have offered five criteria that can be used as a guide in choosing a candidate. Kakayahan, Karanasan, KArakter, Konkretong Plataporma, at Koneksyon. We should ask, “Which candidate best fits all five critieria?”
Second, we should pray alone and with others, seeking for the Spirit to guide and enlighten our conscience. The power of the Spirit has enabled many to make brave decisions that changed the course of history.
Lastly, we should be able to go to bed knowing full well that, in the words ascribed to the former Martin Luther, this is where we stand, and we can do no other.
On May 10, let us vote with our conscience and help build God’s future for our people.