I. What disorders should be avoided during elections
Bear in mind, ©. D. B. B., that whatever is forbidden in ordinary times, is equally forbidden during elections. Furthermore, it can be truly said that the faults committed, on the occasion of elections, against truth, against justice, against charity, against temperance, are more grievous because of the consequences which result therefrom, not only against the neighbour, but also against the whole country.
1. Youknow that it is a mortal sin to take a false oath. Do not therefore perjure yourselves during the election.
It is an enormous scandal to induce any one to take a false oath. pe
Perjury is, in this Province, a reserved case, that is to say, that all who have been so unfortunate as to perpetrate it, can be absolved only by the Bishop, or by his Vicar General, or by a priest specially authorized thereto. The Bishops assembled in Council have judged that it should be 50, that all may comprehend the enormity of
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Falsehood is not, undoubtedly, as grievous as perjury, but it may easily become a mortal sin because of its consequences. Do not calumniate your neighbour, repeat: not the calumnies you may have heard. You do not like to be deceived by falsehood, do not yourselves deceive. others. You do not like to be calumniated, calumniate not your neighbour.
2. Avoid all violence during election-time. You rightly wish to see your liberty respected ; respect that of others. Do not to others that which you would not that others should do to you. Therefore, use neither violence nor threats. Those who have recourse to such means to secure the triumph of their candidate, shall sooner or later be punished in the same manner : for the justice of God renders to every one according to his due.
3. Drunkenness is always a degrading vice ; but during election-time it should be more carefully avoided than ever. The reason thereof is obvious.
The right of voting is a noble and important one ; it should therefore be exercised with full liberty and knowledge. Whoever has the misfortune to get drunk, no longer knows what he does or says, and consequently, cannot give his vote as à rational being. Moreover, experience proves that intemperance is the cause of many perjuries, of violence, and sometimes even of
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4. Do not sell your vote. He who sells his vote dishonours himself ; he degrades and debases himself, for he becomes the slave of the purchaser.
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The right of voting is too noble and too important to be the object of such a bargain.
To sell one's vote, O. D. B. B., is treason against the public good ; for it is a fault which tends to lower the character of a people; itisa means of favouring a candidate judged unworthy of one's vote ; it exposes the country to be badly governed.
To sell ones vote, is to show that one knows not what it is to be an elector, that one is unworthy and
incapable of exercising the noble right inherent ‘o this title.
To sell one's vote, is to expose one's self to the danger of perjury. Ç
That is, O. D. B. B., why to sell one’s vote is a sin grievous in itself ; and all who have the misfortune to become guilty thereof, should confess it with sincere repentance. .
What must be thought of those who receive money to aôstain from voting ?
They degrade themselves ; they commit an act which is sovereignly unreasonable, since they receive money to do nothing, and sometimes even to omit an important duty. In truth, it is a means, indirectly, to favour a candidate in whom one has no confidence, while on the contrary, the man who is worthy of a vote is deprived thereof ; it is therefore trul; à treason.
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Perjury, falsehood, calumny, violence, intemperance, the selling of your vote, must therefore be avoided. Another most important question remains to be treated.
IL. What means should be taken that you be not deceived in your choice ?
We do not, O. D. B. B., tell you to vote for such a party, or for such a candidate, rather than for such another. When exceptional circumstances shall demand that we raise our voice, with authority, to point out to you some danger to your faith, or to the holy rules of morality, or to the imprescriptible rights of Holy Church, we hope that God will enable us not to fail in our duty as Pastor, and we feel confident you will hear our voice. Our sole object, in the present Pastoral, is to make known to you the general rules of Christian prudence, which should guide you in all elections.
1. Severe, but most wise laws have been enacted to secure the liberty and purity of elections ; keep them faithfully, O. D. B. B,., not only through fear of the penalties inflicted on those who break them, but through love for your county and your country which those laws protect, and through respect for the authority whence they emanate.
2. While the Constitution gives you the right and liberty to choose him who is to represent you in Parliament, God imposes upon you the obligation of using this liberty and this right solely for the greater good ofthe country ; for to its greater good all politics and consequently all elections, should tend.
2er Sens
