“When it becomes the ‘sacred duty’ of a man to commit sin---the Christian no longer knows how he should live. There remains nothing else for him to do but bear individual witness-alone. And where such witness is, there is the Kingdom of God.” (Conscience Decides by Sir Thomas More Pg 9).

As we prepare for the November 5 general elections, I hope this reflection on St. Thomas More would give our politicians some spiritual support. St. Thomas More stands as a model statesman, an example q of moral integrity when in 16th century Britain he chose martyrdom rather than betrayal of conscience.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us in Guadium et Spes (pg 6), that the human conscience is “the most intimate centre and sanctuary of a person, in which he or she is alone with God, whose voice echoes within them.”

Who is St Thomas More? St Thomas More was made patron saint of politicians and statesmen by the late John Paul II in the year 2000 after politicians worldwide petitioned for it.

St Thomas More had everything going for him, a good family, education, job but most of all a healthy moral conscience which allowed him to remain rooted and committed to the oath of service, especially service to the poor and marginalised.

Today when we reflect on the quality of our politicians and by extension our society from which they derive, we see how important it is to be encouraged by the life of someone like St Thomas More.

In him there was no great divide between faith and culture, which Vatican Council II laments “as one of the gravest errors of our age” (Guadium et Spes 43).

He conducted his duties as politician with all the integrity of a man of faith. For him, politics was never a profession for selfish ends, but one of continuous service to his people and the pursuit of truth, for which he eventually lost his life.

Today our politicians, especially those who call themselves Christian ought to take the example of moral conscience displayed by St Thomas More knowing that correctly understood it is “testimony of God Himself, whose voice and whose judgement penetrate the interior of man to the roots of his soul”. (Veritatis Splendor 58).

Today more than ever our country needs young men and women who will uphold moral principles especially those upon which justice depends.

Let us pray for our politicians and let us pray for our citizens that during the next two weeks and beyond we will respect the dignity of the human person.