The census starts today/Catholic Church call: Do not refuse to show your faith

2023-09-18 11:15:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Population and Housing Census starts today. The entire Census process will be done digitally through a tablet.

The President of the Bishops' Conference of Albania, Monsignor Angelo Massafraju, has called on the Catholic faithful to show their faith and has guided them regarding the form of the answer.

"We encourage you to fulfill your duty as citizens of the country towards the Institutions by answering the questionnaire. Also, we want to draw your attention to questions about religious belief and religion, which hold respectively no. 168 and no. 169 of the questionnaire within Module I entitled Individual information. The general obligation to answer those questions also has the option: "I prefer not to answer", as it is a right of everyone. We as bishops are convinced that a believer is recognized by the fruits of his life and not only by a statement about his religious affiliation.

However, without wanting to infringe on anyone's freedom, we warmly invite Catholic believers who are truly convinced that they belong to this faith and want to answer the following questions: For question 168 (Module I – Individual Information) where it is written : Do you practice or belong to a particular religion or belief? Mark "Yes". For question 169 (Module I – Individual information) where it is written: What is the religion you follow or belong to? Mark "Christian - Catholic", it says in the message conveyed by the Catholic Church," said Monsignor Angelo Massafraju.

Even the Albanian Muslim Community and the Orthodox Church have also appealed to declare their religious affiliation.

The census will provide data on the resident population, on demographic, social characteristics, data on housing, health, employment and others.

Mbi 7 mijë e 500 anketues, mbikëqyrës dhe kontrollorë do jenë në terren, për 6 javë ku do t’ju drejtojnë qytetarëve 100 pyetje./ CNA