Bishops urge Christians to pray for elections

The association of the Catholic Bishops in India has urged Christians to pray for the upcoming general elections in the country.

The election commission of India has zeroed in on April-May 2009 as the time for nationwide parliamentary elections.

Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), urged Christians in the country to fervently pray for the success of the election and for the establishment of a 'just' government.

In a statement, Archbishop Stanislaus called for a 'prayer campaign' that will mobilize Christians, and bring awareness among the community of their duties and responsibilities to participate in the election, as citizens of world's largest democracy.

The Catholic body urged "Christians to intercede to God for the formation of a stable government that will uphold the principles of democracy, secularism, human rights, freedom of conscience, etc as enshrined in the Constitution of our nation."

Citizens were asked to register for their inclusion in the voter's list and stand for a party that will uphold "Constitutional commitment to religious, racial, cultural and linguistic Pluralism and stand united for enforcing the fundamental Human Rights: to Liberty, Equality and Justice, including the Minority Rights that are the solid building blocks of our nation."

The candidates must be committed to the eradication of poverty, fight illiteracy, disallow discrimination against Christians or SC origin, emancipation of women and further maintain the basic amenities of people including drinking water, housing and healthcare, the bishops earlier stressed.