Together for peace” “

“The consciousness of being ‘universal church’, and hence with world responsibilities, is growing in the Catholic communities of both continents. This too we discussed at the meeting between European and American bishops, which turned out to be very fruitful. This collaboration is set to continue”, declared Monsignor JOSEF HOMEYER , bishop emeritus of Hildesheim (Germany) and President of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community). Bishop Homeyer was summing up the three days of reflection and debates that brought together the bishops of the old continent and those of the USA (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – USCCB) at their recent meeting in Brussels. “Forty years after the Council – added Homeyer – the world scenario has profoundly changed, and barriers must not exist, not even between the churches, in a world without frontiers”. THE PUBLIC DIMENSION OF THE FAITH. From 21 to 23 September the bishops of Europe and the USA gave rise to a wide-ranging exchange, leading to the signing of a final document summing up the numerous issues tackled and underlining the fraternal and cooperative spirit of the discussions. The document expressed the hope for closer “cooperation between the European Union and the USA”, essential for securing peace and tackling the new challenges that the world presents in a globalized era. The meeting between COMECE and the USCCB “enabled the bishops to reinforce transatlantic dialogue, basing themselves on the experience of the church in society and on its social teaching”. “We have taken the place of the politicians – commented Archbishop HIPPOLYTE SIMON of Clermont (France), Vice-President of COMECE -. Our task is rather that of bringing peoples closer together; we work in this spirit”. The points on the agenda included, not least, the situation in the Holy Land and in the Balkans, dialogue between Islam and Christianity, and the role of believers in contemporary society: “Religion – confirms the final document – cannot be confined to the private sphere as it has a public dimension”. FOSTERING PEACE BY PURSUING JUSTICE. During a round table on “The challenge of global security and governance, Bishop Homeyer pointed out: “There are many fears circulating in the world today. The horizon does not appear serene and the uncertainties are felt by citizens, and also by politicians with high responsibility. Not even the Churches are exempt from them”. “Against this background the responsibilities of the Churches grow: they are called to foster dialogue, support peace and engender hope in the contemporary world”. Bishop JOHN RICARD, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), explained how this “difficult phase of growing conflicts” is being perceived in his country”: “After the terror attacks of 11 September and the wars that followed them, we are witnessing a paradox. We breathe a strong sense of vulnerability, just at a time when the USA has emerged as the world’s only superpower, super-exposed at the political and military level”. Ricard recalled that the American Catholic Church has repeatedly made its voice heard “contrary to preventive war and political unilateralism”, while at the same time agreeing that “each country has the duty to protect its own citizens and their security”. “The defence of human rights and the commitment to justice – added the bishop of Pensacola Tallahassee – are indispensable for removing the causes of international conflicts”. DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE RESULTS OF THE UN ASSEMBLY. “I expressed disappointment at the results of the General Assembly of the UNO last week, especially as regards the fight against poverty. The churches were expecting much more. The Millennium Goals, signed up to by almost all countries, need to be revived, because the poor countries cannot wait any longer in vain”, said Bishop ADRIANUS VAN LUYN of Rotterdam, Vice-President of COMECE, commenting on a further issue raised during the meeting. “We need to act to ensure that the pledges made under the aegis of the UNO be fulfilled, first and foremost, as promised, the allocations to combat famine, drought, illness and the lack of education to a level amounting to 0.7% of the GDP of national budgets. On the other hand, I regard as positive the fact that at the previous summit of the G8 significant pledges were made about the cancellation of the foreign debt of the poor countries”. US BISHOPS “ROOTING” FOR THE EU. “We are very pleased about the process of enlargement underway in the European Union, especially because the objective is to bring the benefits of continental integration to the peoples of Eastern Europe”, said Cardinal THEODORE MCCARRICK, archbishop of Washington, at the end of the meeting, in a briefing to SIR in which he explained the position of the US episcopate on relations with the EU. “Naturally we are aware of and are monitoring closely the present difficulties of the Union, linked especially to the ratification of the Constitution. I hope that the EU will be able to effectively manage this phase and soon overcome it by taking a further step in its own history”.