SW News: As Spain gears up for the general elections on July 23, a Catholic archbishop has come out with a letter for both voters and candidates detailing four major issues that needed to be addressed. Archbishop Luis Arguello of Valladolid exhorted voters not to confine their political life to just casting their ballot in a box.

In his letter, the prelate referred to the demographic situation in the country which is on the verge of a population catastrophe. Given the plummeting birth rate in Spain, the archbishop asked candidates what proposals they had to favor life. He also asked about the importance given to paternity and maternity. “What are the housing circumstances or working conditions that can favor or hinder birth?” asked the Church leader.

He raised questions about the proposals for education, the pension system, health care, social services and caring for the elderly in the welfare state. The prelate hinted that these issues have great repercussions in Spanish society. “In order for our Welfare State to become a true society of care it is important that the proposals of the public administrations and those of the social initiative converge,” he added.

The third aspect raised by the archbishop was the health of democracy in Spain. He pointed out two key aspects such as the independence of the judiciary and the cooperation between public administrations. In the first aspect, he sought proposals for the judiciary, including ones that preserve the independence of judges.

Archbishop Arguello then elaborates on how the nation should acknowledge the regions and other administrative units and work in tandem with them for the common good. He then made a mention of the alarm points in social life. He explained by mentioning the issue of migrants. He expounded on protecting their right to not leave their countries of origin and addressing the economic and political situation of those nations.

He then mentioned various types of violence and all kinds of deaths such as suicides, fatalities at the workplace and deaths resulting from violence. “Another determining aspect for our own democratic health, for our own social health, is everything related to the mental health of the population, with problems of loneliness, with the situation of the elderly. What is needed is a response that is up to the challenge that these issues pose to us now and in the future,” said the archbishop of Valladolid.