By Kristina Millare
Rome Newsroom, Mar 31, 2025 / 10:33 am
Australian bishops on Sunday emphasized the vital role of the country’s Catholics in promoting the common good as they prepare to vote in the upcoming national election on May 3.
The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Commission for Life, Family, and Public Engagement, chaired by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, recently released the “Election Statement 2025: Called to Bring Hope in the Year of the Jubilee” following the announcement of the election date by the Australian government.
According to the statement released on March 30, the bishops highlighted the importance of engaging in democracy to build a society based on love, truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom, as advocated by Pope St. John Paul II. They emphasized that voting is not just a civic duty, but an opportunity to advance the common good and bring hope to the nation.
The bishops identified four key issues that Australian Catholics should consider before casting their votes: the dignity and value of every human being, religious freedom and conscience rights, fairness, justice, and the common good, as well as responsible stewardship of God’s creation.
In urging Catholics to form their consciences through reason, sacred Scripture, and Church teachings, the bishops emphasized the obligation to address important political and social issues, discerning how to promote peace and justice in society through their voting choices.
