Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, Bishop Emeritus of San Cristobal de las Casas and in charge of the Doctrine of the Faith in the Mexican Episcopal Conference (MEC), offers Exaudi’s readers his weekly article entitled “Redeem Politics.”
See
In a public opinion survey made two years ago by a reliable research firm, the most trusted institutions were the Universities, the Church, and the Army. On the contrary, those considered the least trustworthy were politicians and their parties. This is also reflected in the abstention that persists in elections, despite the copious propaganda of the different parties, which want to convince people to support them, and despite the fact that the ecclesiastical hierarchy also encourages all to take part with a reasoned vote. It’s very grave that at present the National Electoral Institute (NEI) is disqualified only because it takes decisions that don’t please the majority party.
Distrust is increased because there are candidates that are only interested in obtaining a post, even if they have to change parties. It’s not an ideology that moves them, but an economic interest or one of another nature, even if they dress them up with nice speeches and demagogic promises. It would seem that some imagine that only they can do things well, that their group or family are the only ones worth anything and, therefore, they don’t want to give up power. They perpetuate themselves one way or another. This degradation of politics is what makes many of us distrust the parties and the electoral process.
It’s very serious that the designation of candidates is done by economic pressure groups or, worst still, by the imposition of drug traffickers or groups of extortionists and criminals who, with their money, want to tip the balance in favor of the person who is willing to follow their instructions under pain of death for him or his dear ones. Money can’t define who wins an election, much less so can ill-gotten funds.
Think
In his Exhortation Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis says: “For many today politics is a bad word, and it can’t be ignored that behind this fact there are often errors, corruption, the inefficiency of some politicians. Added to this are strategies that seek to weaken it, to replace it by the economy, or to dominate it with an ideology. However, can the world function without politics? Can there be an effective path to universal fraternity and social peace without good politics?” (176).
“I allow myself to insist again that politics must not be subjected to the economy and the latter must not be subjected to the dictates and to the paradigm of technocratic efficiency. Even if there is bad use of power, corruption, lack of respect for laws, and inefficiency, an economy cannot be justified without politics, which would be incapable of propitiating another logic that rules the different aspects of the current crisis. On the contrary, we need a politics that thinks with a wide vision and that brings about a complete overhaul, incorporating in an inter-disciplinary dialogue the different aspects of the crisis. I am thinking of healthy politics, able to reform institutions, to coordinate them, and equip them with the best practices, which make it possible to overcome vicious pressures and inertias. This can’t be asked of the economy, nor can it be accepted that the latter assume the real power of the State.” (177).
“In face of the many petty and immediate forms of politics, I remind that political grandeur is shown when one works in difficult moments for great principles, thinking long-term of the common good. It’s very hard for the political power to assume this duty in a nation’s project, and even more so in a common project for present and future humanity. To think of those that will come does not serve electoral ends, but it is what genuine justice exacts.” (178).
“The global society has serious structural failures that aren’t resolved with patches or merely occasional quick solutions. There are things that must be changed with in-depth rethinking and important transformations. Only healthy politics can lead <a change>, convoking the most diverse sectors and the most varied knowledge. “ (179).
Act
At the end of our recent Plenary Assembly we, the Mexican Bishops, made these exhortations: “It is urgent to collaborate together in seeking solutions to address the health, family, educational, economic and security emergency. There is no time for divisions or disqualifications! We must learn to leave our egoistic, individual or partisan interests behind, to engage in a dialogue for the good of all Mexicans. To those who govern us, or who aspire to do so, we invite to reflect on their fundamental role in promoting agreements that help to overcome the crises we are facing. Campaigns that sow division and polarize society will never be a way for wellbeing and peace. Neither do public policies that attempt against a person’s dignity or against the environment.”
“We invite voters to exercise their right to vote. Therefore, we suggest that they be informed as much as possible about the person and proposals the candidate has so that they analyze them from their conscience with our human and Christian values. We must avoid being accomplices of disinformation campaigns, of support of candidates against life, the institution of marriage, human dignity, and religious liberty as well as extreme passion that harms the family and social ties that unite us. We must not let ourselves be bought by hand-outs or conditioned by threats of any sort. Our vote must be free and sovereign.”
