Card. Filipe Neri Ferrão, archbishop of Goa-Dama, has urged his people to refrain from undertaking a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Velankanni in Tamil Nadu a day before the general elections in Goa. “It is universally recognized, espe-cially in a democracy, that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual, guided by a properly formed conscience,” the cardi-nal said in the circular addressed to the clergy, religious and faithful in Goa. The cardinal’s April 15 message comes against the backdrop of several people expressing concern on social media that many Catholics may end up missing out on the opportunity to vote due to the election schedule. Goa, which elects two Lok Sabha members, is scheduled to vote on May 7. In his circular, the prelate reminds Catholics and “people of good will” to fulfill their ci-vic responsibility by exercising their vote.” In this connection, I see it as my bounden duty, as the head of the Church in Goa, to call the attention of our Church members to the fact that, in the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in poli-tical life is a moral obligation’,” he said quoting “The Joy of the Gospel”, apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis in November 2023.
This obligation, the cardinal said, is rooted in “our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.” “In this context, I appeal to every eligible voter to participate in the democratic process by casting the vote, not only as a right, but chiefly as a duty towards the nation. He also reminded the faithful “about their duty to pray for our country which we do on every Sunday at Mass.” He has requested parish priests, chaplains and superiors of religious houses in Goa to organize special prayer services on May 3, the first Friday of the month, or on May 5, for the success of the elections.