ECUMENISM
Europe: Churches on migration policies Churches in Europe undertook a series of initiatives in the filed of migration policies. While waiting for France to take office as EU president Country, the Council of French Christian Churches – which recently solemnly celebrated the 20th anniversary of its foundation – urged that migration policies in Union Countries be developed “in full respect of the values and rights which made this part of our planet a place for prosperity, freedom and peace”. In a joint declaration, Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants claimed that a real and true migration policy must envisage reducing inequalities between the North and the South of the world which foster migration flows. French Churches hope that “the French Presidency will enhance positive measures and approaches, acknowledging the contribution immigrants have given to our Western societies”. Paragraph 3 of the declaration focuses on illegal immigration. “People without residence permit are not without rights: living in families, accessing treatment and schooling one’s children are all fundamental rights which ought to be respected”. “Expulsions – is written in paragraph 4 – are always a test and a failure. If it’s necessary to resort to this measure, it must be done in full respect of the values which characterized our history”. Lastly, the Churches reiterated, “the right to asylum isn’t just a fundamental right but also a duty of reception and hospitality”. From Brussels, the Secretary General of the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) wrote a letter to Italy’s new Minister of Interiors asking for the enactment of immigration policies in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe. “We declare – is written in the letter – that each person deserves to be treated with equal dignity before the Law”. CCME is an ecumenical organism whose main offices are in Brussels. It was founded in 1964 to promote coordination of European, Protestant and Orthodox action in the field of migration policies. Russia: a “compromise” for RavennaThe department for foreign relations of Moscow’s Patriarchate issued a communiqué reiterating the reason (the presence in Ravenna of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Estonia, recognized by Constantinople’s Patriarchate only within the mixed Orthodox-Catholic Commission) which led the Russian Orthodox delegation to quit the meeting. The communiqué reaffirms that “only autocephalous and autonomous Churches whose statute is recognized by all Orthodox churches can take part in the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue”. The communiqué affirms: if also autocephalous Churches which are not recognized by all Orthodox churches must participate in the theological dialogue – like Estonia’s apostolic Orthodox Church which is only recognized by Constantinople-, also the Orthodox Churches of Armenia and Japan should be invited along with the autonomous Churches of Moscow’s Patriarchate such as the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Moldavia, Latvia and Estonia. The communiqué presents a “compromise solution”. It envisaged the participation of delegates from the different Churches whose statute has not been recognized by the Mother Church of all Orthodox Churches. Germany: ecumenical demonstration Next May 30-June 1st the 13th edition of the International Day of Church Ecumenism will be celebrated on Lake Constance. With this initiative, explained Father Hermann Riedle from the Catholic Community, “we intend to show that today the Church and Christianity still bears attractiveness and intends to bring people together to celebrate”. In 2005 the city of Ravensburg celebrated the 450th anniversary of the peace of Augsburg. Since then, the Catholic and Protestant Churches coexist without problems. “This ecumenical spirit must be tangible during the ecumenical Day”, declared Father Riedle, who organized the event with Protestant rev. Riley Edwards-Raudonat from the Evangelical Community of Ravensburg. According to organizers, the 130 planned events will be attended by thousands of people coming from Swizerland, Austria and Germany. In addition to ecumenism, the main themes of the event are coexistence between different religions and cultures, the action of Caritas and the Diakonies and the new forms of poverty. Politicians and personalities from the cultural environment will take part in the various workshops, while children and the youth will have the possibility of attending specific performances and musical happenings. The event will close on June 1st with an ecumenical celebration officiated by Msgr. Johannes Kreidler, auxiliary bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart and by Gabriele Wulz, evangelical prelate from Ulm.
