Wcc, Jews

Wcc: the Churches faced with ethical challengeOn February 13 the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches representing 349 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Churches opened in Geneva. The meeting, which will close on February 20, was introduced by a long report read by Wcc Secretary General Rev. Samuel Kobia describing the past year’s activity. “The Ecumenical Council of Churches – Rev. Kobia said – intends to play an essential and relevant role in the promotion of the encounter of Churches, where they share their hopes and delusions and by doing so grow in visible unity”. In the opening session of the Central Committee, bishop Hilarion Alfeyev from the Russian Orthodox Church delivered a very powerful speech: ” I want to warn you against the dangers of liberal Christianity”. The Russian bishop referred to the drift of “moral standard liberalization”. This issue – he said – also divides Christian communities whereby we can no longer speak of Christian morality “since the standards promoted by “traditional” and “liberal” Christians are very different and the divide between these two areas of Christianity is rapidly increasing”. “We hear Christian leaders – continued the bishop – say that marriage between men and women is no longer the only possible option for the creation of a Christian family, that there may be other couples, and that the Church has to be inclusive enough so as to recognize these alternative lifestyles and give them a solemn blessing. We heard that human life can be a negotiable value, to the extent that it can be aborted in the mother’s womb”. “What is it of Christianity? In a confused and disoriented world, where is Christians’ prophetic voice?” The Russian bishop also mentioned the latest intervention of the archbishop of Canterbury concerning the possibility of introducing sections of Muslim legislation in Britain’s legal system. Bishop Alfeyev described the situation as a “paradox” since “it’s not up to us to defend the Sharia, or to promote alternative lifestyles and secularized values. Our mission is to preach what Christ has preached, teach what the Apostles taught us and pass down what our Fathers passed down to us. This is the testimony that people expect from us”. Jews: a controversial proposal in France French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested that starting next year, each fifth-grader learn the name and biography of a French child who died during the Holocaust (11.000 children died during the Shoah), with the purpose of “preserving his memory”. Mr. Sarkozy announced the initiative during the annual dinner of the Council representing Jewish institutions in France (Crif), held in Paris on February 14. The dinner was exceptionally attended by the President of the Republic and by almost the entire government including the mayor of Paris. Crif President Richard Presquier, denounced 350 acts of anti-Semitism in France in 2007, approximately 30% less than in 2006 but “far too many, leaving an ongoing sense of insecurity on their wake. The aggressors are increasingly younger and the acts are ever more violent”. “It’s an alarming situation, debates on anti-Semitism are becoming superficial – Mr. Presquier pointed out -. Rather than being the object of racism, anti-Semitism is fomented by clichés and fabrication, like the obsession of conspiracy theories, which has become the most serious form of anti-Semitism today. Internet is an amazing megaphone”. Therefore Mr. Sarkozy made his proposal, which sparked off a serious debate in France between those who view the President’s proposal as contributing to children’s civic formation, and those who claim it would be an excessive burden for them to bear. “It’s going to be complex – said National Education Minister, Xavier Darcos – we will have to count on the sensitivity of our teachers. The issue needs to be addressed with great caution.” Reservations were expressed also from the psychological angle. According to psychiatrist Serge Hefez, “if we want children to have a memory of the past, I think this shouldn’t be done by imposing spirits.” Also teachers unions took a distance from Sarkozy’s proposal. “Once again – explained Patrick Gonthier, Seretary General of UNSA-Education – there is confusion between history and memory”. “History requires a distant study, while memory is based on affection and emotions”.