England: shariah, “no religious tribunals””It is necessary to make a distinction between the legal recognition of religious tribunals and the need for legislation to meet the needs of religious faithful”. This was the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales’s remark regarding Anglican Primate Rowan Williams’ claim of introducing a part of the sharia in the United Kingdom. According to the bishops, Williams had made this distinction but the media didn’t report it. Article 9 of the Bill of Human Rights and a number of sections of British legislation appease the faithful when Catholic schools are granted the possibility of choosing a Catholic schoolmaster or when a doctor is allowed to act as conscientious objector before an abortion request. Granting recognition to religious tribunals however, is a completely different story. Although the Catholic Church has its own Canon Law and a tribunal system regulating marriage and divorce, “these courts’ decisions have no juridical value in the civil courts of the Country and the Church has never undertaken this path”. English bishops deem “important for British legislation to have a universal value and be equal for all citizens. The State ought to meet the needs of the faithful but without hindering the common good”. Portugal: the challenges of Pastoral health careThe diocese of Oporto decided to focus on the formation of individuals operating for Pastoral health care. The intent is to accompany their evangelizing commitment with a charitable approach towards the sick, viewed as subjects of law. On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, 45 diplomas were handed to participants in the II Pastoral Health Care course, organized by the diocese in collaboration with the Centre of Catholic Culture of Oporto. During the ceremony, the Secretariat’s vice-president, Américo Azevedo, declared that “formation is aimed at training operators to a real and true encounter with the sick, allowing individuals to understand that more than bringing the communion, they will enter in communion with the sick”. “The sick wants and must be part of the community he belongs to, without being the object of a purely sentimental form of charity: in receiving attention to his state of health, he can in turn be an evangelizer, offering his living testimony to his neighbour”. As a handicapped person, Américo Azevedo added that in his opinion “the Church has often tended to view the suffering as a privileged person, as someone who is loved by God in a special way. This philosophy however, often isn’t enough for the handicapped person to feel fully valued”. “This attitude is no longer sufficient and it must be overcome – concluded the diocesan Secretary – the sick person ought to be approached by someone who is close to him as a lay person and as a father, or simply as a visitor. It’s important for the disease to be viewed as an opportunity for mutual growth and enrichment”. Ireland: climate, let the wealthy country pay damages to DCsThe taxes on emissions in the wealthy countries should be used to fight the effect of global warming in the developing countries (DC): it was said by mgr. John Kirby, bishop of Clonfert, a diocese in eastern Ireland, president of the Catholic agency for aids to the Third World of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference, “Trocaire”. “Climate change is hindering the fight against poverty”, stated the bishop to the Catholic weekly “Universe”. “The developing countries did not cause global warming, but have to face its consequences, because they live in the affected areas, they depend on climate for their crops and are already so poor they are not in a position to respond”. According to mgr. Kirby, a substantial part of the proceeds from the taxes on emissions should be allocated to the new UN fund, called “Adaptation Fund”, to help the poor face climate change. According to the United Nations, natural disasters have tripled since 1970 and, if emissions due to the greenhouse effect move on at this pace, Africa will have to face more famines and droughts. In addition, the bishop proposed that a new tax on the consumption of fossil fuels should be enforced in Ireland, although he explained that he does not expect the government to respond to his request any time soon. However, the Trocaire and its supporters will engage in lobbying actions next year for the bishop’s proposal to be included in the new Finance Act. “Anything we do must keep into account the developing countries. They must not be punished for the sins committed by the developed countries”.
