A new quality

The plenary assembly of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) was held in Brussels from 22 to 24 November. The bishops discussed various European and international issues of the day (cf. also SIR Europe nos. 76, 80 and 81/2007). EUROPEAN CULTURAL PROJECT? “An ecclesial situation of new quality is emerging in Europe today and the bishops can be witnesses of this development and play an active role in it. Most of the initiatives in the cultural and political spheres have come from the lay movements and associations and this is a good sign”. Referring, in particular, to the Italian and French Social Weeks, and other similar meetings held in various Churches of Europe, Bishop ADRIANUS VAN LUYN of Rotterdam, President of COMECE, mentioned the possibility of a European cultural project, and the proposal for a European Social Week. “These are prospects we need to examine more fully but – he added – they indicate the need for the thinking of the national Churches to be shared on major European issues”. In this regard, the President of COMECE recalled the three dialogues that need to be pursued: the dialogue with reason, the dialogue with other religions, starting out with Islam, and the dialogue with the political authorities of the EU. “In the period laid down for the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon – said van Luyn – it will be important to present our concepts and our ideas and, in particular, our request for form and substance to be given to the structured dialogue between European institutions and religious communities”. THE PRIMACY OF THE FAMILY. During the assembly the bishops of COMECE examined the document presented in recent days (cf. SIR Europe no.76 of 7 November) by the COMECE secretariat as a contribution to reflection on EU policy for the family, a “chance and challenge for Europe”, and yet a field of policy that, as is well known, does not fall within the remit of the EU. In short COMECE asks the EU to foster the stability of the family, intervene to reduce the demographic decline, fix the minimum level of social protection, promote measures to inform young couples and so prevent separations, adopt economic measures for baby products, facilitate access to housing, take measures to reconcile work and family, prevent juvenile delinquency and guard against the dangers of videogames, drugs and alcohol. “A series of very specific proposals which – underlined the bishops – sets out clearly what the family is, and what it is not, and as such contributes to the promotion of the most precious asset and the very future of Europe”. FOREIGN POLICY AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. In acknowledging the new initiatives that the EU intends to take in support of its own external action, including the post of High Representative for External Policy, the bishops of COMECE expressed the hope that “these new measures may reinforce the coherence and effectiveness of the external action of the European Union in the world”. Given that the future High Representative “would also have to defend the respect for religious freedom in the different areas of conflict around the world”, the bishops proposed that “regular contact be established between the High Representative and the Churches and communities of faith”. Moreover, they called for the establishment of “a unit in the future external action service of the EU to take account, where necessary, of the religious dimension of the international questions”. “It needs to be recognized – commented COMECE Vice-President, DIARMUID MARTIN , Archbishop of Dublin – that religion is not a spent force but a fundamental resource to tackle difficulties and crises by focusing on conflict resolution and the promotion of peace”. CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED IN IRAQ. “With regard to the desperate situation of refugees in Iraq – in particular Christians, who are described as ‘extremely vulnerable’ by the UN High Commission for Refugees – the bishops ask the European Union and member states to reach agreement as soon as possible on assuming responsibility for Iraqi refugees in the next two years. The bishops urge that care for the sick children of refugees from this region be especially facilitated and that they be given treatment in hospitals in Europe”. Africa and Kosovo are the other two areas in crisis for which the bishops of COMECE ask for more effective action on the part of the EU”. SAINT COLUMBINUS, FOURTH PATRON . It was the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, who expressed the hope that St. Columbinus be added to the three other patron saints of Europe (Benedict, Cyril and Methodius) “as representative” of the Churches of Western Europe. Colombanus (543-615), an Irish monk, devoted all his energies to the evangelization of Europe, founded various monasteries and ended his life in a little town (Bobbio) in Northern Italy.