On the day of the official launch of the VOTE FOR LIFE Campaign, Precious Life have welcomed the statement from the Bishop of Down and Connor calling on voters in the forthcoming election to choose candidates “who most uphold the dignity of every person, from conception to natural death”. The Bishop also encouraged voters to question the candidates about how they will “ ..seek to uphold the inherent dignity of every person and their right to life and security from the first moment of conception.” The Bishop was addressing a pre-Assembly election event in Belfast today (Thursday 14th April).

Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “Today’s address from Bishop Treanor is a timely and welcome statement as we officially launch ‘VOTE for LIFE’. Through our Campaign, we are also calling on voters to ask the candidates will they uphold the right to life of unborn children and oppose any attempt to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland. We are urging people when deciding who to vote for, to choose only those candidates who will uphold these pro-life values.”

Bishop Noël Treanor - Chair of the Commission for Social and International Affairs of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference - was speaking in Belfast at a discussion on the common good ahead of elections in Northern Ireland hosted by Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs (NICCOSA)

The other Key note speakers for the event was Rev Dr Wesley Blair, Chair of the Council of Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland. Also speaking at the event was Presbyterian Minister Rev Bill Shaw, Director of the 174 Trust. Rev Shaw warned that: “The vulnerable and the voiceless are always at most risk from being pushed to the margins – or worse – ‘airbrushed’ from our consciousness.”

In his comprehensive address to representatives of Church, political parties and community and voluntary organisations Bishop Treanor said:

“All Christians have a serious duty to vote in the forthcoming Assembly elections… This includes the duty to weigh up the choices that confront society and to choose those candidates or parties who most uphold the dignity of every person, from conception to natural death ...I hope that Christians of every denomination will weigh up the issues that confront our society at this time and vote, after prayer and reflection, in accordance with the prejudice-breaking values and principles of the Gospel. ... These Gospel values include the value of respect for life from the moment of conception to natural death, the principle that marriage between a woman and man is the basis for the family as the fundamental unit of a cohesive society and the promotion of justice in society...Christians should not hesitate to ask those canvassing for their vote what they intend to do to support the institution of marriage and the family, The document From Crisis to Hope... encourages Christians to ask questions of our politicians when they come canvassing votes. It encourages them to ask questions arising from the social teaching of the Gospel such as: ...How will you seek to uphold the inherent dignity of every person and their right to life and security from the first moment of conception to natural death? These are signpost questions for assuring the anthropological quality and creativity of politics at the service of the entire community. [see more of Bishop’s address here]

Bernadette Smyth concluded. “It’s great to see the representatives of different denominations coming together to endorse such a powerful message. I’m confident that the good people of Northern Ireland, from all sections of the community, will take heed of their words and ‘Vote For Life’ on 5th May”

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-- Extracts from --

From Crisis to Hope: Working to Achieve the Common Good
Address by
Most Reverend Noël Treanor
Bishop of Down & Connor
Forthspring Community Centre, Springfield Road, Belfast
Thursday 14 April 2011

I am here this morning with Dr Wesley Blair of the Council of Social Responsibility of the Methodist Church in Ireland to express our shared Christian concern to see this crisis of social need in Northern Ireland addressed comprehensively and as a matter of priority by our elected representatives in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The Methodist Church and the Catholic Church share a long tradition of emphasis on the social dimension of the Gospel in teaching, witness and mission. With all Christians we unite around the conviction that the message of Jesus Christ affirms the innate dignity of every person and the possibility of a shared vision of social relationships based on the principles of justice, solidarity and love. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those from the Christian community who give of their time, talent and resources to addressing social need in projects such as Forthspring. I pay particular tribute to Rev. Richard Johnson and Rev Chris Fraser from the Board of Forthspring and to Maura Moore and her staff for making us so welcome here this morning.

We meet in the context of local Assembly elections ...As part of our effort to discern the values and principles that can help us to re-plan our journey, that can help to avoid the mistakes of the past and chart a more balanced, sustainable way forward, the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Bishops’ Conference published the document, which we reissue today specifically for the elections in Northern Ireland, entitled ‘From Crisis to Hope: Working to Achieve the Common Good’. ... It sets out the values the Council believes should inform the crucial choices we make as individuals in the elections that will take place on the 5th May.

...Christians have a right and a duty to contribute to the cultural, economic, political and social life of the society to which they belong. They are called to be active citizens working for the common good through their participation in all that contributes to the integral development of society and the person.

This includes the duty to weigh up the choices that confront society in an election and to choose those candidates or parties who most uphold the dignity of every person, from conception to natural death...

...This includes the duty to vote. All Christians have a serious duty to vote in the forthcoming Assembly elections and to use that vote in accordance with their Christian conscience and the values that will enhance the common good of our society. ...I hope that Christians of every denomination will weigh up the issues that confront our society at this time and vote, after prayer and reflection, in accordance with the prejudice-breaking values and principles of the Gospel...

...These Gospel values include the value of respect for life from the moment of conception to natural death, the principle that marriage between a woman and man is the basis for the family as the fundamental unit of a cohesive society and the promotion of justice in society.

...The key objective behind all our decisions and actions as citizens, including how we use our vote, should be to build a society worthy of the human person...

...Christians should not hesitate to ask those canvassing for their vote what they intend to do to support the institution of marriage and the family, as well as parents as part of ensuring the best environment for the progress and well being of children...

...The document From Crisis to Hope offers what I believe are many other important insights and reflections on the application of the Gospel to the issues facing our society at this time.

...Ultimately, the document encourages Christians to ask questions of our politicians when they come canvassing votes.

It encourages them to ask questions arising from the social teaching of the Gospel such as: ...

How will you seek to uphold the inherent dignity of every person and their right to life and security from the first the first moment of conception to natural death?

These are signpost questions for assuring the anthropological quality and creativity of politics at the service of the entire community.

...The forthcoming election and how we chose to vote are an opportunity to give shape to that hope and to ensure that social solidarity, justice and the common good are the values that guide us to the brighter future that we all hope for and deserve.