Catholic voters in England and Wales should question general election candidates about the rights of the three million EU citizens living in the UK and a million British people living abroad, the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales says in a pre-election statement.
In a letter to be distributed in parishes this weekend, the bishops urge Church members to vote on 8 June and state that the election takes place at a “pivotal moment in the life of our nations as we prepared to leave the European Union.”
The letter lists a series of questions Catholics should ask parliamentary candidates on specific topics: they include Brexit, assisted dying, prison reform, immigration and refugees and caring for the vulnerable. While the bishops set out some of their key concerns, they focus on broad policy guidelines rather than commenting on specific issues in individual dioceses, in any great detail.
The questions on Brexit are at the top of the list with the bishops stating that to a great extent, “the outcome of this election will determine the approach taken” on how Britain leaves the European Union. Catholics should ask candidates where they stand on the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and British nationals elsewhere who currently face an “uncertain future,” the letter says.
Like the political parties, the bishops will have noted that there are two years of difficult negotiations ahead over the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, with some signs of real tensions between London and Brussels. As more detailed policy aspects of the Brexit settlement emerge, it may be that individual bishops will want to comment further on some issues, both in an EU and domestic context.
In this respect, two other issues highlighted are migration and refugees and asylum seekers. In the letter, the bishops are clear that any policy on migration must “work for the economy and is respectful of the unity of marriage and family life.”
Voters are also encouraged to question candidates about whether they will keep the UK’s commitment to resettling at least 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020 and if they would be open to expanding the scheme. In addition, they should be asked if they will “promote a welcoming society and stand against hate crime?”
On family and life issues and society’s “most vulnerable people”, the bishops highlight the decision of the last Westminster parliament to stop the legalisation of assisted dying. “Will your candidate uphold this decision? Will they support measures to promote the intrinsic value of life at every stage?” the letter asks.
Turning to the prison system, the bishops warn that prisons face “unprecedented levels of violence and suicide” when they “should be places of redemption and rehabilitation.” Voters should ask candidates if they support “urgent prison reform and better resourcing,” they add.
On questions of health, housing and social care funding, the letter urges voters to raise the question of how these services will be financed in the future, warning that “there are many in our communities who are financially vulnerable and struggle to make ends meet or are in need of decent housing.”
These concerns are echoed in a pre-election letter from the Scottish bishops which will be read out at over 500 Catholic churches in Scotland this weekend. “Society will be judged on how it treats its poorest and most vulnerable citizens,” the bishops say.
The statement lists Human Life, Marriage and the Family, Poverty, Asylum and Religious Freedom as key areas. “This General Election provides an opportunity for Catholics to take their beliefs to the polling station and elect members or parliament who share their concerns,’ said Anthony Horan, the Director of the Catholic Parliamentary Office in Scotland.
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