Laity is called to animate political order, shape society from within

By Fr Stephan Alexander, General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

The Second Vatican Council boldly reminded the Church of a timeless truth: all the faithful, without exception, are called to holiness. This “universal call to holiness” (cf Lumen Gentium 39-42) is not reserved for those who wear religious habits or stand at the altar but embraces every baptised person. It is a divine invitation to live in communion with God, to embody the Gospel in daily life, and to transform the world in love and truth.

Holiness, therefore, is not abstract or remote—it is practical and immediate. It is lived in the decisions we make, the relationships we form, and the responsibilities we undertake in family, in work, in school, and, yes, in civic and political life. ‘Holiness’ means responding to God’s call where we are, with what we have, in the particular circumstances of our lives.

Too often, when we hear the words holiness or ‘vocation’, we think almost exclusively of priests and Religious sisters and brothers. While these are indeed noble and essential vocations, they are not the only ones.

‘Vocation’ refers to the unique path God calls each person to walk to love, serve, and grow in holiness. Marriage, single life, and especially the lay vocation in the world are also authentic and vital ways of living this call.

In fact, Vatican II and successive teachings of the Church have made it emphatically clear: the laity (persons not ordained for ministry) have their own specific vocation within the Body of Christ.

In Christifideles Laici, St John Paul II wrote that lay people are “called by God to make of their apostolate, through the vigor of their Christian spirit, a leaven in the world for the sanctification of the world itself” (CL, 36).

Lay persons are best positioned to live and witness to the Gospel in the ordinary circumstances of life. They are the ones immersed in the home, the office, the classroom, the media, the marketplace, and crucially, the political sphere.

The Church’s mission to sanctify the world cannot be achieved without the laity embracing their vocation to be salt and light in the very places where human life unfolds.

In this light, the upcoming general election on Monday, April 28 presents a timely and important moment for reflection. Participation in political life is not an optional add-on to the lay vocation—it is a moral duty.

Pope Francis has called politics “one of the highest forms of charity” because it seeks the common good. But this requires people of conscience, integrity, and faith to step forward—both as voters and as potential leaders.

The Church is meant to play a pivotal role in the formation of consciences. Hence, ordained ministers—bishops, priests, and deacons—have a distinct role in teaching, sanctifying, and shepherding the faithful. Theirs is a spiritual and sacramental service, and as such, they are prohibited from holding political office. This is not a limitation, but a protection—of both the integrity of the Church’s witness and the freedom of the political realm.

Therefore, the responsibility to animate the political order with Gospel values falls to the laity. It is the lay faithful who must bring their moral convictions and Catholic worldview to bear in the formulation of laws, policies, and national priorities. They are the ones who can—and must—shape society from within.

As we prepare to vote, it is essential to approach this civic duty with careful discernment. No party or candidate is perfect, but not all policies are equal in moral weight.

Catholics are called to assess each party’s platform in the light of the Church’s social teaching, with particular attention to how it upholds the dignity of every human person and promotes the common good.

Support should go to those whose policies protect life at all stages, foster social justice, care for the vulnerable, and promote peace, equity, and the flourishing of all. Personality politics and partisan loyalty must never outweigh moral clarity and Gospel values.

This is a moment of kairos—a privileged time of opportunity and responsibility. The challenges facing Trinidad and Tobago are real and pressing. The laity must not remain on the sidelines, content to observe and critique.

They must participate, organise, vote, and even offer themselves for public service. The nation needs Catholic voices, not only in the pews, but in the Parliament, in the councils, and in every space where decisions are made.

Let us remember: holiness is not confined to private piety. It must animate public action. And in this election season, it is the laity’s sacred vocation to lead with wisdom, courage, and faith.

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