Spain: “Bravo 2007” prizes awardedThe “Bravo 2007” prizes, promoted by the Episcopal Commission of the Means of Social Communication (CEMCS) of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, were presented at a ceremony in recent days. The CEMCS has been awarding these prizes for distinguished services in the media since 1971. This year too, emphasized Bishop Juan Del Río of Jerez, chairman of CEMCS, in presenting the prizes, “the Church in Spain wishes to express its desire for friendship with the world of social communications and to recognize the meritorious work of all those professionals of communication who, in the various media, have distinguished themselves by their service to the dignity of man, human rights and Gospel values”. “In this indispensable cause to the benefit of the dignity of the person and the common good – continued the bishop – the Church and the world of social communications, alongside other social and political institutions, are called to continue to work jointly together”. This year’s prizewinners include the Most Rev. Fernando Sebastián, Archbishop Emeritus of Pamplona, for having considered, during his pastoral ministry, the means of social communication as one of the privileged channels for the evangelization of culture in our time. The archbishop was also awarded the special prize for having promoted the creation of new Catholic media and the revival of those already existing in his diocese. Other prize-winning include the press, radio, television, cinema, music, advertising, the new mass media, and the work performed in the field of the social communications by the dioceses. In this latter section the prize was won by the Commission for Social Communications in the diocese of Valencia.France: dioceses taking action for the housing emergencySolidarity of the Church with the families and the young couples looking for a house in a property market that is becoming more and more selective due to inaccessible prices, especially in the areas around the big metropolis of Paris, in the departments of Hauts-de-Seine and Ile-de-France. This is the start of the “Solidarieté logement” campaign, promoted by the diocese of Nanterre in conjunction with the Labour Mission, Caritas and the Abbé Pierre Foundation, which drew up a file about the property market and its consequences on the lives of 4 million families that every year set out in search of a house. According to the file, only 800 thousand of such families have access to a property. For the others – especially if they have a limited budget -, it is the start of a “truly difficult process, which often turns into social deterioration as a first step”. “Can Christians – writes father Bernard Cheveau, delegate for the diocese of Nanterre to the Labour Mission – wash their hands of the fate of these brothers and sisters of ours?” The “Solidarieté logement” campaign, promoted by the diocese of Nanterre, includes an awareness-raising day on Sunday 10th February. Paris too is taking action through a series of events focussed on such problem to be held during the Charity Festival.Scotland: lent between art and prayerA meal of bread and water in one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants. A menu offering several kinds of bread, arranged in the shape of a cross, and quality mineral water, including international brands. This is how the Scottish diocese of Glasgow has begun Lent, the events of which are covered by the “Lentfestival 2008” schedule, for the six weeks of Lent. The initiative, which adds up to the liturgical rites, means to promote a number of artistic activities – theatre, cinema, dancing, music, literature and visual arts – targeted to the congregation. “Exploring faith through art is the goal we set out for ourselves in these six weeks of the festival – explains mgr. Mario Conti, archbishop of Glasgow -. That’s why we are trying to involve as many artists as possible. Art can be an extraordinary vehicle of faith”. The schedule includes a concert by pianist Aleksander Kudjczyk, who was discovered when he worked as cleaner at Glasgow University, a play about the Beatitudes, and some Gregorian concerts. The Lentfestival was established in 2006 by mgr. Conti and has become one of the most important events in Glasgow.England: one-income families oppressed by taxationIn the United Kingdom, families where only one parent works while the other parent is devoted to child education are penalized by the fiscal system. This is the stand of the Christian charity “Care” according to which Britain’s family nuclei undergo the highest taxation in Europe and in the world. Data issued by “Care” confirm that in 2006 a couple with two children with a single salary and a yearly income of 30.800 pounds, approximately 44.000 euro, paid 40% more taxes in the UK than in any other OECD country and 25% more than in any other European Country. According to “Care” over two million children in Great Britain are at poverty risk caused by the fiscal system since they live in one-income families. The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales declared that a tax reform is needed to this regard, recognizing parents’ key-role in child education. “Father and mother have a unique and irreplaceable role in child education”, said Elizabeth Davies, director of the Family and Marriage Plan for the Episcopal Conference. In an interview issued in the Catholic weekly “Tablet”, tax expert Robert Rowthorn from Cambridge University declared that the State penalizes those families where a parent decides to devote himself full-time to his children leaving the other in charge of their financial support”.
