Our Maharashtra State Elections will be on Wednesday, November 20th. Voting at elections is the sacred duty of every citizen. It is an expression of our commitment to the values that shape our country. We vote for peace, progress, harmony, unity and care for the needy. I strongly urge every member of our community, every Catholic, every Christian who can to vote and thus participate actively in this all-important democratic process.
I invite our people: confirm your inclusion in the voters’ list, and prepare to exercise your right to vote. The Catholic Church has always maintained a consistent stance: we neither endorse nor support any single political party. We ask that each person vote according to his / her conscience, guided by values that uplift and honour our democratic traditions.
We recall with respect the dreams of our nation’s founders and the ideals of our Constitution: Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity. We strive that these values remain at the heart of our democratic process and that people of all castes, creeds, and backgrounds live in harmony, free from hatred and violence. Only thus can our country make rapid progress.
At the moment we pray for our leaders, that the ethos of true patriotism enkindles a spirit of service within them. We commit ourselves to work unitedly for the progress
15 November 2024
✠ Oswald Cardinal Gracias
Archbishop of Bombay