Catholic Union: Can Faith in Politics be Restored?

A GENERAL ELECTION - TIME FOR REFLECTION

LONDON, April 15, 2010 - The Catholic Union of Great Britain will, at 12 noon on Monday
19th April 2010, launch its General Election publication to assist voters in
assessing the quality of candidates at the forthcoming General Election.

The press launch will be held at Vaughan House, 46 Francis
Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 1QN, just behind Westminster Roman Catholic
Cathedral. Members of the Press and Media are invited to attend this launch.

Chairman, James Bogle, said "A General Election is an important
time in the life of a democratic country and this one is particularly
important. Voters need to ask whether they want to elect a candidate who had
no knowledge of, or actively spurns, the contribution made by faith
communities, and particularly the Christian community, to British culture and
society.

The Judaeo-Christian tradition has given us most of the enduring
landmarks in our nation: from hospitals and universities, churches and
Cathedrals, public education, the foundations of modern nursing and
medicine, our legal and judicial system, our formidable tradition of
voluntary and charitable service, the basis of our architecture
and the layout of our cities and towns, to our Parliament and Crown.

However, in recent times, partly on the back of anti-religious
bigotry, we have seen some pretty ill-informed debate about faith communities
and some legislative and other discrimination causing closure of Catholic
adoption agencies, to restrict Catholics wishing to go to Catholic schools,
to muzzle Catholic schools selection, to prevent Christians wearing the signs
and symbols of their faith at work, and attempts to compel schools to give
abortion access information to primary age children.

We have also seen potentially risky policy-making which has
attempted to legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide and there are
continuing attempts to bring in such manifestly unjust laws.

Meantime we have seen a decline in support for family life and a
concomitant decline in social cohesion and an increase in correlated crime
and social exclusion.

We have also seen the relationship of trust between voter and
politician significantly undermined by the notoriety surrounding the issue
of expenses and by various scandals including politicians seeking
'cash for influence'.

Voters might wish carefully to ask themselves to what extent they
wish their elected representatives to endorse these trends which undermine
the common good and welfare of society.

We have produced this publication to assist voters in assessing
the key issues at this General Election".

The guide warns against accepting bland assurances from
candidates. It also suggests questions that might be put to candidates and
reminds readers that the private views and assurances of candidates may not
be sufficient but that voting records and past commitments are usually more
indicative of the way that a representative will vote and act if elected.

Established in 1871, the Catholic Union of Great Britain is an
association of Catholic men and women from various professions working to
provide expertise and analysis on issues of public concern. Its members work
to further the common good through grassroots action, educational conferences
and representations to Parliament, Government bodies and the media.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    James Bogle on +44(0)7773-818394
    Catholic Union of Great Britain
    St Maximilian Kolbe House, 63 Jeddo Road, London W12 9EE
    Email: info@catholicunion.org

    Web: www.catholicunion.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION: James Bogle on +44(0)7773-818394, Catholic Union of Great Britain, St Maximilian Kolbe House, 63 Jeddo Road, London W12 9EE, Email: info at catholicunion.org