AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Democracy and respect for the human person:
the Church encourages us to prepare for the vote  Cúcuta
(Agenzia Fides) - In a statement entitled "Pastoral Guidelines
in the context of the Congress and the Andean Parliament
elections in 2014", the Bishop of Cúcuta, His Exc. Mgr. Julio
Cesar Vidal Ortiz, said that the exercise of democracy in the
upcoming election is based on equality, respect for the human
person and the common good. He also urged all the baptized "to
exercise their right to vote and to learn about the different
proposals and Government programs of the candidates", as stated
in the note sent to Fides by the Colombian Episcopal Conference.
The Bishop urged to "conscientiously choose the most suitable
candidates to carry out such public office", and, recalling the
role of the Catholic Church in relation to politics, stressed:
"For our pastoral and evangelical identity, the Diocese of
Cúcuta does not have, nor does it endorse any candidate or
political party". Finally, with the w