SCOTLAND'S two leading Catholic clerics have urged their congregations to ensure they use their vote in next month's Independence referendum.
In messages to their parishioners to be read this weekend, Archbishops Philip Tartaglia and Leo Cushley call on parishioners to fully consider the issues "in the light of Catholic social teaching" ahead of the September 18 vote.
Neither urges the congregations to vote either way but say Catholics have a civic duty to turn out at the polling booths and to engage with the debate in the run-up to the vote.
In his letter, Archbishop Tartaglia, who leads the country's largest Catholic congregation in Glasgow, said those voting "should do so with complete freedom of choice".
According to the Scottish Catholic Observer, Archbishop Tartaglia, who is also head of the Bishops' Conference, will say: "The Scottish independence referendum is now just a short time away. Along with the bishops of Scotland, who are deeply conscious of the importance of this referendum, I encourage and urge all those eligible to vote to do so with complete freedom of choice and in accordance with their prayerful judgment of what is best for the future. May God guide us and bless us in whatever choice we make in good conscience."
In his letter, Archbishop Cushley said that he has often been asked for his personal opinion on the referendum debate and was writing to give his response.
"Urged by the love of Christ, we are called to be citizens who contribute positively to the common good and who strive always to consider others and their good before our own.
"We are called to promote peace, integral human development and authentic human rights, and to have a special care for the poorest and the weakest in society
"We are also concerned for the rights of all people, to freedom of conscience and to the right to believe and to practise their faith.''
He encourages his flock "to do your civic duty on the day".
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