LONDON - The Church of England has published prayers to help
confused and cynical voters ahead of Britain's upcoming
election.
Britons are due to go to the polls this spring with many voters
disenchanted after a parliamentary expenses scandal that saw
lawmakers from all the main parties make excessive claims ranging
from bath plugs to moat cleaning.
Voters also have to decide which party would be best to tackle
the country's record deficit.
The CoE, the Anglican mother church, has published a series of
prayers which remind voters they can make a difference.
" ask that the concerns of all may be heard and seek protection
from despair and cynicism," the church said.
One says: "Thank you for caring about how our country is run,
and that we have the right to vote for our politicians and
government." But it goes on to say: "Sometimes I wonder whether
there's any point in voting, whether anyone cares what I
think."
"Help me not to be cynical about politics and politicians, help
me to remember that my vote can make a difference."
Some ask for guidance to choose the party which can protect the
poor and vulnerable and which will make "our nation a place of
fairness and peace."
Another urges that "truth may prevail over distortion, wisdom
triumph over recklessness."
Labour, which has been in power for the past 13 years is
neck-and-neck with the main opposition Conservatives in opinion
polls ahead of an election expected on May 6.
The church traditionally steers clear of politics, but it has
found itself in conflict with various governments of different
hue.
Most recently, it has opposed Labour's plans to introduce an
Equality Bill, while in late 2008, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams likened the government's fiscal stimulus package to
an "addict returning to a drug."
A predecessor of Williams, Robert Runcie, had criticized the
Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, blaming her policies
in the 1980s for high unemployment, which he said had created
"despair about the future.
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