MEMORANDUM OF CATHOLIC CHURCH’S BISHOPS IN ALBANIA

ON THE OCCASION OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 3 JULY 2005

(non official translation from the original albanian document)

Motivated by the coming political election, we would like to publicly impart to all citizens a short reflection on the need and the importance to participate in the construction of a better society, a common good   that should be the true goal of every strife and action.

In an open and honest assessment of the condition of the lives of our country we noticed that there is a need to commit and above all to cooperate to build a society worthy of our citizens.

We regret to note that:

1. There is an excessive gap between the rich and the poor. We underline the rich whose wealth had been earned unjustly and the poor who cannot even assure themselves of the bare essentials to live.

2. Many people particularly among the young people have lost their hopes to live a life worth living in our country. Most of them do not believe that their potentialities can be developed nor find a suitable condition to do so in the future of which reason that they continue to flee to another place.

3. Social problems and an unresolved poverty that increases with each day: among our primary concern is the widespread use of prohibited drugs, prostitution and an increasing case of suicides amongst all age groups which are symptoms of such a situation. 

Here, we would like to qoute the words said by the Archbishop of London, Cardinal Basil Hume: “when a society looks at itself in the mirror and it is not pleased with what it sees, it either shrugs it off and leaves or stops and reflects”. This is the appeal we want to address to our people on the occasion of parliamentary elections: To consider the current situation and work for a better future.

To create a better society is each and everyone’s prerogative and no one should exempt himself from this duty. One of the ways of public participation for the improvement of society is to elect its representatives in the parliament, which should be free and personal.

In the occasion of the upcoming elections we would like to remind all the candidates that:

1. It is their principal task to promote the dignity of each and every person and to promote the common good. It is their task to create the conditions for a better life for all its citizens and a chance for developing the potentials of the youth for their future in their homeland.

2. They should not defend only the interests of their political group, clan or region. They should not in any case use the power for personal gain.

3. They should engage seriously to construct a society based on justice and respect, protecting its most vulnerable members and defending the rights of man as an inestimable value.

4. We quote the words of Jacque Delors: “We have to give life to Europe” we must strengthen the ethical foundations of our society, in order to respect the irreplaceable human person as oppose to the culture of suicide, human trafficking, abortion etc.

Jesus Christ has taught us that whoever has power should not use it to suppress   others but to serve others. Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his first Pontifical Mass has stressed, “It is not the powers which recompenses and saves, but love”.  Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter when he declared Thomas Moore as patron saint of the citizens and politicians reminded us that politics cannot be separated from morality. We conclude by making this appeal to all citizens to use their right and duty to vote, to use it not for ones private interests, but for the common good of our homeland. 

Tiranë, May 10, 2005                                                                                                              Albanian Bishops Conference

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