Rethinking welfare” “

Reforming the welfare state: a thorny question for Germany, which has been discussing it for months at the various institutional levels. A document on this issue was presented by the Commission for social questions of the German Bishops’ Conference on 12 December 2003. Its aim is to offer “guidance to ensure political decision-making ability” and contribute “to rethinking the welfare state in a sustainable long-term way, by promoting the necessary reforms to this end”. The reforms to the welfare system must be such as to “reinforce and guarantee solidarity and justice, also in view of structural unemployment and demographic variations”. We discussed the problem with Bishop Josef Homeyer of Hildesheim, who chairs the Commission for social question of the German episcopate. Reforms of the welfare state and social security systems are being discussed in Germany. What problems worry the German Church? “Germany is currently going through a phase of heated debate about the reforms. After a period in which the need for reforms was not recognized, or, as some claim, even ignored, both the government and the opposition, and many specially established commissions, have formulated proposals to ensure a future to the country’s social security systems. These reforms needs to be introduced with some urgency: demographic variations, the erosion of forms of solidarity such as the family and persistent mass unemployment, are factors that impose the need to substantially reform the State’s action in welfare, the benefit system and tax law. The German Catholic Church is supporting these efforts, though at the same time it is asking that the reforms be not shortsighted, or limited in scope, but assume a wider perspective. This means also giving a greater voice to those whose interests are often planned in a less efficient way, for example the unemployed, families, and the future generations”. German Catholic social doctrine boasts of a strong tradition… “The social doctrine of the Church may be proud of its rich tradition, especially of its great social encyclicals. In Germany there are also exists the joint pronouncement of the Bishops’ Conference and the Evangelic Council “A future in solidarity and justice”, promulgated in 1997. It’s a document useful also for our reflections today. At the same time, we need to bear in mind that the doctrine of the Church always needs to be rethought in a new way to adapt it to constantly changing economic and social conditions. The poor, the outcast and the marginalized of our society are at the centre of the Church’s attention. Therefore, as far as the reforms are concerned, if everything remains as it is, it will inevitably be the poor who will have to pay the price, because it is they who depend in a particular way on the benefits provided by the welfare state”. In Germany the welfare state is well organized and provides a high level of security. But does it also achieve social justice? “Hitherto, the German welfare state has achieved many objectives. Social policy interventions have enabled poverty to be curbed, injustice to the eliminated and social conflicts to be attenuated. Germany currently allocates two-thirds of its total GDP to this end. Yet in spite of this, situations that can only be described as scandalous exist in our country: I am thinking for example of the precarious situation of many families and of the appalling fact that in our society children represent a risk of poverty. I am also thinking of the ever-growing numbers of the long-term unemployed, and the growing percentage of people to whom our educational system no longer offers equal opportunities. Many of these problems represent a challenge also for other European countries”. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1257 N.ro relativo : 87 Data pubblicazione : 18/12/2003