AMECEA: Civic Education Series 1

TOPIC: DEMOCRACY AND ELECTIONS

This is an overview of the booklet Democracy and Elections, General Editor: Right Rev Patrick Harrington, Bishop Emeritus of Lodwar Diocese, Kenya.  This is the first of the booklets on Civic Education with particular reference to the Social Teachings of the Church published by the Pauline Publications Africa, Nairobi. Bishop Harrington begins by quoting the teachings of Pope John Paul II that:

“An authentic democracy is not merely the result of a formal observation of a set of rules but the fruit of a convinced acceptance of the values that inspire democratic procedures: the dignity of every human person, the respect of human rights, commitment to the common good as the purpose and guiding criterion for political life. If there is no general consensus on these values, the deepest meaning of democracy is lost and its stability is compromised” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 407)

In this booklet of 48 pages, the author looks at the following topics:

1.      Meaning of Democracy.

2.     The Principles for a Successful Democracy.

3.     Freedom of Association: Political Parties.

4.     The Universal Vote and Elections.

5.     Checks and Balances in a Democratic Society.

6.     The Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

The booklet does not give answers to all the questions we may ask about Democracy and Elections, but provokes to think about it and helps us to have a basic knowledge of what the Social Teaching of the Church says about the same topic.

To make a review of this booklet, I begin by looking at what the General Editor, Bishop Harrington, writes in Chapter One. We are going to look at the Second Chapter in the coming week.

 CHAPTER ONE

THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY

In Chapter One of the Volume 1 on Democracy and Elections for Everyone, the general editor Right Rev Patrick Harrington SMA, Bishop Emeritus of Lodwar Diocese, Kenya looks at the following topics:

1.       Evolution of Democracy.

2.      Meaning of a “Democrat”.

3.      Conclusion.

1.                  Evolution of Democracy.

Bishop Harrington begins by stating that “The search for the best and most equitable form of government has always preoccupied the minds and hearts of human beings, as it touches on essential elements of life and living”. As such we can say that as a theory and in its actual practice, democracy has undergone a series of developments from earliest time. Democracy is defined as

“a form of government based upon self-rule of the people and in modern times, upon freely elected representative institutions and an executive responsible to the people. … It is a way of life based upon the fundamental assumption of the equality of all individuals and of their right to life, liberty (including the liberty of thought and expression) and the pursuit of happiness”

In the democratic theory, civic authority resides in the people. Through an act of elections, the people transfer, for a time, the exercise of this authority.

God created human beings to live in society in order to fulfill their destiny and to be assured of their welfare. At the same time, the common good of a society needs some kind of authority and this is supposed to be designated by the people. The author refers to what is enshrined in the Universal declaration of Human Rights,

“The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government; this will shall be expressed in the periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures”

However, it is not enough to be elected democratically, but the issue is the exercise of this authority in the manner of governance. It must be able to guarantee the welfare the peace and the exercise of fundamental rights of those who have elected them. In this way, representative democracy is balanced and enhanced by the social involvement of the people from all levels of society.

2.                 Meaning of a “Democrat”

The author describes a “democrat” as:

-         One who is firmly convinced of the dignity of each and every human person and acts without discrimination. He is able to recognize that each person has been created in the image and likeness of God.

-         One who holds that the human person has been created to live in society whose happiness and prosperity is linked with that of others, interdependent.

-         One who upholds the observance of the law. Every person is free. He/she understand that personal freedom must be respect the law that guarantees the freedom of others. “If you are free, your neighbour is also free.”

-         One who will cooperate in the peaceful coexistence and development of all members in society. He will never use violence and will participate in making suitable choices for the administration of public affairs.

3.                 Conclusion

Bishop Harrington concludes this chapter on Democracy by referring to the teachings of Pope John Paul II in Centesimus Annus, 1991, 45, 46.

“Authentic democracy is possible only in a State that is ruled by law and has the correct conception of the human person … The heart of the society is the human person with his full dignity …

A true democratic regime is one where the principle of the “Rule of Law” is supreme … The Church values the democratic system inasmuch as it ensures the participation of citizens in making political choices, guarantees to the governed the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate. She cannot encourage the formation of narrow ruling groups which usurp the power of the State for individual interests or ideology.”

The author makes the following important Biblical reference in his presentation:

a.      Dignity and Freedom of the human person: Gen 1:26-27; 2:7, 22; Mt 25:15-16; Lk 18:9-14; 1 Jn 2:9; Gal 3:28.

b.      The meaning of a Democrat: Mt 22:15-16; Lk 20:21-26; Mk 12:13-17; Acts 24:10-21; 26:4-11; Gal 1:13-14.

Chapter Two will be posted on this blog in seven day from today 23rd January and will look at “Principles of a Successful Democracy”.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1.      What do you understand by “Democracy”?

2.      From where do “leaders” get their authority?

3.      For you, what is “an appropriate” level of participation?

4.      Are you a democrat?”