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Yes, your vote counts

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI

“…responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”
(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium [The Joy of the Gospel], no 220, quoting United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, November 2007, no 13).

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In just over two weeks, we will go to the polls to cast our votes for the candidate/party of our choice. It’s important for Catholics and the wider community to understand the importance of the call for us to participate in society.

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Pray for peace during T&T’s campaign for general election on August 10, 2020

Friends,
You may recall that Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace message for January 1, 2019 was: “Good politics is at the service of peace.”
Let us start a conversation about how we can achieve ‘good politics’; how we can promote effective and efficient structures at all levels of governance to promote human dignity, human rights, and to build the common good.
And what about the principle of subsidiarity? Good governance involves putting structures in place to promote participatory governance. If good politics is to be at the service of peace, then people in local communities must have opportunities for self-determination and empowerment.
To achieve the common good, we must all work to create conditions in which each person can achieve his/her potential.
In case of erectile dysfunction, PDE-5 enzyme becomes effects and causes the lacking of blood in that area is narrow veins viagra for sale india that feel it difficult carrying blood in the genitals. Excluding viagra online sales , there is generic medicine called cialis on the market and there are lots of online pharmacies that offer special deals and discounts on the medication. These herbal pills have gained wide acceptance to cure sexual disorders including semen leakage, premature ejaculation, frequent nightfall, erectile dysfunction and low libido. cheap cialis from canada The store wants to save your money and to offer you the best possible products. cost of cialis The Compendium on the Social Doctrine of the Church reminds us that “the common good is the reason that the political authority exists[355]…to ensure the common good, the government of each country has the specific duty to harmonize the different sectoral interests with the requirements of justice[358]. The proper reconciling of the particular goods of groups and those of individuals is, in fact, one of the most delicate tasks of public authority.”
In our diverse society, this is one of the most challenging tasks for politicians. Good politics requires our politicians to DO justice, including distributive justice, as there can be no peace without justice (Blessed Pope Paul VI).

Leela Ramdeen
Chair, Catholic Commission for Social Justice

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Vote for the common good

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

“Political parties have the task of fostering widespread participation and making public responsibilities accessible to all. Political parties are called to interpret the aspirations of civil society, orienting them towards the common good, offering citizens the effective possibility of contributing to the formulation of political choices. They must be democratic in their internal structure, and capable of political synthesis and planning” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #413).
As we prepare for General Elections tomorrow (September 7), I urge each of you to offer up your prayers for leaders of political parties, candidates, and citizens of T&T, that we will all have the interests of our people and our country at heart.

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Our role in party politics

by Nadine Bushell, member of the CCSJ
by Nadine Bushell, member of the CCSJ

Elections and party politics are very much in the air in Trinidad and Tobago.  The Tobago elections were held in January of this year, the Chaguanas West by-election took place last month and the country is heading towards Local Government elections.  There are varying reactions to the politically charged environment. Many persons wish they did not have to hear, watch or be in any way affected by the political activities and actually prefer to watch a good movie as opposed to a political rally.  Others ensure they are directly in front of the television or have a radio close at hand to hear every word.  Then there are those who ordinarily are not very interested but feel the need to be sufficiently aware so that they can at least contribute to one of the many heated conversations they are likely to fall into.

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People of Pentecost

Leela Ramdeen

By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.”

“Renewal” requires reconciliation – a word that is embedded in our Archdiocesan Mission Statement. In the midst of all the crime and violence in T&T and in the world, there is a yearning for peace, but there can be no peace without reconciliation and justice.

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