An examination of the problems of the Church in the world, also by reflecting on the latest documents in the papal magisterium, and a particular attention to the problems of the pastoral care of immigrants and of the family in the Nordic countries: these were the main focuses of attention of the Scandinavian Episcopal Conference at its meeting last week (10-15 September), held at Djursholm, near Stockholm. Although Catholics in the five countries of the Conference (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark) form only a small minority of the population, ranging between five and ten percent of the inhabitants, the role and presence of the Catholic Church do make themselves felt. Issues such as genetics, euthanasia, marriage legislation, sexual ethics, and the acceptance of immigrants, especially from the poorer countries, are deeply felt in the Scandinavian countries too. Often antithetical views on sexuality, the ethics of marriage, and the defence of life are expressed in these countries. The Scandinavian bishops, eight in all (Wrobel in Finland, Arborelius and Kenny in Sweden, Kozon in Denmark, Gijsen in Iceland, Schwenzer, Goebel and Muller in Norway), as well as various “emeritus” bishops, are now called to make a contribution to the preparation of the “Lineamenta”, i.e. the preparatory document for the Synod of Bishops due to be held in the autumn of 2005. In this regard, Msgr. Czeslaw Kozon, of Copenhagen, will prepare a contribution to be submitted to the other Scandinavian bishops, before being sent to the general secretary of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican. Another result of the work of the Episcopal Conference of the Nordic countries was the election of the new general Secretary; Msgr. William Kenny, auxiliary bishop of Stockholm, will take the place of Sister Angela Corsten. The post of bishop responsible for cultural questions was assumed by Msgr. Johannes Gijsen, of Reykjavik. A large part of the work of the assembly was dedicated to the draft pastoral letter on marriage and the family, as a common document between the five Scandinavian Churches. In its drafting, which will take into account the interventions and contributions made during the five days of the assembly, reference will also be made to the recent pronouncements of the European bishops through their European organizations COMECE and CCEE, as well as to various seminars and study meetings at the continental level devoted to these questions. A book on Baptism was also announced: edited by the catechetical organization of the Nordic countries, it will be published in the near future.
