Christians urged to vote for change as Blair stalls
-4/02/05
The forthcoming UK general election, which many believe will be in May 2005, is a ìmoment of crisis and truthî for Christians. So says Columban priest and commentator Frank Regan, writing for the Christian think-tank and news service Ekklesia.
In his article Electing for truth and justice, Regan challenges the ëarroganceí and ëdismissivenessí of the Blair government in the aftermath of the Iraq war. He puts global concerns firmly at the top of the Christian agenda ñ citing poverty, war, and the ecological crisis as key ëfaith issuesí.
Reganís call for an international perspective challenges the British prime ministerís apparent intention to minimise overseas visits in the run up to the election in order to put across a ìBritain Firstî message to the electorate ñ according to todayís Independent newspaper.
Regan, who has recently produced theological study material as part of a Roman Catholic initiative on asylum, says that Christians in the UK should ask themselves: ìHow will we vote in the presence of the God of the poor? What message do we want to send? What sort of leadership do we need?î
His reference is to the ëpreferential option for the poorí, which has been part of the radical Catholic social agenda for many years. Former Anglican bishop of Liverpool David Sheppard also coined the phrase ëbias to the poorí in the 1980s. The terms refer to the strong biblical concern for the marginalized.
The idea is that in order for all people to live in peace and justice with each other and God, the poorest have, in the words of Maryís song (the Magnificat), to be ìlifted upî, and the mighty ìbrought down from their thronesî.
Leadership and tough political choices at the ballot box are ìcritical and theological questionsî, says Frank Regan. ìAt this juncture, which path will we choose?î he asks.
The starting point Regan spells out is very different to that of the ëreligious rightí, who critics say stress questions of sexual and family morality in abstraction from the larger economic, social and political questions.
Ekklesia, the radical Christian news service and think-tank, will be providing alternative views and analysis of election issues as the campaign develops. It will also be encouraging Christian contributions to the electoral process and debate from independent and associational (alliance-based) perspectives.
Yesterday the official ecumenical body for the national denominations, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, announced resources and guidance for local churches hosting hustings meetings in parliamentary constituencies. These are downloadable from a new web site: www.churcheselection.org.uk