Arousing consciences” “

An “incarnate” Gospel that is able to tackle contemporary challenges; a living faith that is not enclosed in the sacristies, but tries to be the “leaven” and “salt” of the earth: this is the spirit shared by the Semaines sociales in France not only with the equivalent ‘Social Weeks’ in Italy, but with the periodic meetings of German, Austrian and Polish Catholics, and various initiatives promoted by the Episcopal Conferences, associations and publishing houses in many European countries. Two great ‘social’ meetings are now being prepared in France and Italy, aimed at accompanying the process of continental integration. CHRISTIANS AND SOCIETY: A EUROPEAN “network”. “We must turn our diversity into a source of common enrichment; we need to shoulder together the Union’s responsibilities”, says Michel Camdessus, chairman since 2001 of the Semaines sociales de France which are celebrating their centenary this year. To mark the occasion, four “Days of dialogue and meetings” are due to be held in Lille from 23 to 26 September under the title: “Europe, a society to be invented”. The programme for the event is full of debates, moments of celebration and ecumenical prayers led by the Taizé Community, all organized in cooperation with the European Social Weeks (LESW), with the Italian Social Weeks, with the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), the Belgian Interdiocesan Ministry, the Polish Catholic publisher ZNAK, Austrian Catholic Action, the Slovak publishing house Luc and various other national associations. “On the basis of refound unity in the old continent – explains Camdessus in presenting the four-day event – we wish to build a truly European society: in this task, Christianity, which is at the roots of Europe, also forms the first opportunity. Animated by their faith, Christians have the vocation to arouse the consciences of Europeans anaesthetized by the fear of losing something, and by individualism”. CENTEN ARY OF THE SEMAINES SOCIALES DE FRANCE . The former president of the International Monetary Fund adds: “Great challenges await the faith: the family, peace, freedom of conscience, participation in public life, sustainable development, poverty and the opening up of Europe to the outside world”. The Four-Day event in Lille will comprise moment of debate in assembly and six forums on specific issues: the main speakers will include the French historian René Remond, the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, the president of the Schuman Foundation in Warsaw Roza Thun, the archbishop of Lille Gérard Defois, the chairman of the Federation of Austrian Families Johannes Fenz, the Belgian economist François Marthou and many others. The projection of a video-message from the Pope to the participants is also planned. The organizers explain that this rendez-vous represents “a celebration to mark the centenary of the Semaines sociales de France“. Created in 1904 by a businessman in Lyon and a teacher in Lille, they “have provided a forum for meeting, reflection and exchange in the light of the Gospel on the major questions of society”. Held each year in a different venue, and realized in the style of “people’s universities”, the Semaines sociales de France annually attract over two thousand participants. In more recent years the issues tackled have been: “Working and living” (2000), “Biology, medicine and society” (2001), “Violence” (2002) and “Money” (2003). ItalY: nEW SCENARIOS FOR DEMOCRACY. In Italy the organization of the 44th Social Week ( Settimana sociale) is in full swing. To be held in Bologna from 7 to 10 October its theme this year will be: “Democracy: new scenarios, new powers”. In this case the tradition goes back to 1907. Monsignor Lorenzo Chiarinelli, bishop of Viterbo, chairs the organizing Committee. “The Social Weeks – he explains – were established at the beginning of the last century to promote the cultural elaboration of Catholics on issues of public relevance. Their constant inspiration has been the social doctrine of the Church, with its basic principles to be incarnated in the diversity of contexts. They have given rise to a long and fruitful tradition, which has led Catholics to devote attention to and assume responsibility for the transformation of society, social processes taking place, the significance and factors of development, an ethics of the common good and genuine democratic participation”. At the beginning of the third millennium “new problems appeal to us. Hopes and expectations are not lacking, but the scenario is charged with tensions and contradictions on the economic, cultural, political and technological levels”. Among the emerging questions “it seems particularly urgent – concludes Chiarinelli – to reflect on how to promote and guarantee the conditions of democracy in an age in which the processes of globalization are subverting international relations and the balances within national states”.