Austria: unrestrained dialogue with Islam”We should address problems with Islam with no restraints”, this hope was expressed by the Bishop of Graz, Msgr. Egon Kapellari in an article published in the past few days by the Austrian weekly “Die Furche”. “Instead of being promoted, fruitful dialogue centered on the real problems of coexistence is being prevented by the prohibition to address specific issues, with the excuse of questionable political correctness”, the Bishop declared, pointing out that this attitude “only benefits the moves of demagogical politicians”, hampering “the coexistence of integrated Muslims or that of those willing to integrate themselves with faithful of other religions or agnostics in the Country”. Kapellari urged to take the population’s “skepticism and their concern for certain aspects of global Islam” seriously. He equally stigmatized recent declarations on Islam made by Susanne Winter (member of Austrian Party Fpö) as a “generalized and poorly qualified attack against Islam which not only aroused Muslims’ indignation, but also that of politicians and of Church and other religious communities’ representatives”. Moreover, according to Msgr. Kapellari, Islam represents “an epochal challenge to the entire European Community” which the Church is addressing with “openness to a sincere dialogue with Islam, based on mutual respect and non-unilateral tolerance”. This openness however “entails also not concealing one’s faith. In order to engage in dialogue Christian identity must be deeply-rooted, this ultimately implies also the respect of Muslims”. England: Shoah, never forgetFrom the days of memory we can learn the lessons of the past in view of a better future. The statement was rendered by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales in a communiqué issued yesterday to commemorate the Shoa and the death of 6 million Jews in Nazi concentration camps. This year’s topic is “imagining, remembering, reflecting, reacting.” In her statement delivered on Holocaust Memorial Day, Sister Clare Jardine, Secretary of the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews declared: “it is appropriate that Catholics remember this Day. Not only do we want to ensure that the horrors of Nazism no longer take place, we should also be aware of the dangers of such atrocities against other groups of people in our times”. “In remembering, reflecting and reacting to past atrocity we should recall Anne Frank’s words: “despite all that has happened I still believe that people are good at heart. I cannot build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death. I see the world becoming savage, I hear the thunder drawing closer and destroying us, I hear the suffering of million people and however, if I look up to the sky I think that everything will be mended in the end, that this cruelty will terminate, and peace and tranquility will return”, concluded Sister Jardine.Germany: the media should promote life On the occasion of the feast of S.Francis of Sales, patron of writers and journalists, (January 24), the archbishop of Paderborn, Msgr. Hans-Josef Becker, the auxiliary bishops Msgr. Manfred Grothe and Matthias König, along with General Vicar Alfons Hardt and the Dome’s provost Wilhelm Hentze, met with over 50 journalists and media representatives. Msgr. Becker highlighted the need to find “points of reference and distinguish what is useful from what is useless” in “the jungle of information flow” characterizing present media situation. The bishop referred to children in particular, representing “the target exposed to media influence with no form of control”. Msgr.Becker maintains that “helping children view the media with a responsible and critical approach is a major task of the media”. The Church in particular, is called to “give strong points of reference contributing to the maturity and formation of the youth”. “How do we protect and benefit children in our media world?” This is the question that all media players should ask themselves, Becker affirmed. “”Adults must supply children with a community culture based on authentic emotional availability and careful listening. The figure of Jesus is an important and effective example to refer to”, affirmed the archbishop who exhorted media representatives to “promote as much as possible and put to advantage life-promoting media initiatives”.
