Austria: no to ethics lessons to the detriment of religion “No” to ethics lessons that go to the detriment of religion lessons. This claim was voiced a few days ago by Christine Mann, director of the Church Office for Education and Formation regarding the proposal to introduce an ethics lesson for everyone in schools, which would replace confessional religion lessons. Criticising the proposal of Erwin Niederwieser, spokesperson of Austria’s Socialist Party (SÖP), Madam Mann highlighted the importance of confessional religion lessons, whose substantial contribution to identity formation is crucial for a pluralist society”. Mann encouraged the social-democratic environment “not to react automatically against all things related to religion, the Church, and religious communities”. “Above all, I wonder which social-democrat, or rather, which democratic person tout court can actually hope that the profound social thrusts pertaining to religion, are further reduced in the educational environment”. Evangelical Lutheran bishop Michael Bünker shares Mann’s views: “For the Evangelical Church, ethics lessons don’t contradict religion lessons”. According to the bishop, the point is “the formation task of the Austrian Church, which ought to strengthen the pedagogical dimension of the ethical and religious realms, also for those who don’t attend confessional religion lessons. The Evangelical Church rejects the attempt of placing ethics against religion, one against the other”. This is an attitude “which severely damages the social function of schools”. Romania: the heroism of a bishop “Tell them I died for Christ and for my homeland”. These were the last words of Romanian Greek-Catholic bishop Ioan Suciu, who died in the prison of Sighet on June 27, 1953. He was 46. Ioan Suciu was born in Blaj in 1907. He studied theology in Rome, where he was also ordained priest. When he returned to his homeland he devoted himself with enthusiasm to teaching, preaching and to spiritual counselling. He was close to the youth and was loved by them. In 1940 he was consecrated bishop in the diocese of Oradea. In 1948, during the persecution against the Church, he used to go from one village to the next to encourage the faithful to hold on firmly to their religious belief. He visited over 600 parishes. During one these visits, he was arrested in the middle of the night. He was forced to undergo interrogation and torture, without being allowed to stand a fair trial. He spent six years in prison. Since he was young he suffered from stomach upsets and the food he ate in jail was not good for him, so that he practically died of hunger. “On the eve of his death – witnesses recalled – he was so weak he couldn’t get up. But before dying, at one in the morning, he recited the Pater Noster so vigorously that the prayer was heard throughout the entire prison. The bishops who were near him in his cell watched over him for the entire night”. He was buried in the cemetery of the poor in Sighet, in an unknown tomb. His beatification cause is currently underway.Italy: human rights and solidarity networks “If human rights are confined to the state of a mere legal-formal recognition, they are “dead rights”. In fact, they become an offence and a curse against human dignity”. Since these terms are set against the slogan “more security less freedom”, there is a wicked tendency to let unscrupulous realpolitik logics and interests prevail over the peaceful and democratic development of societies”. This is the risk that the world is running, according to Antonio Papisca, from the University of Padua, who participated in the 32nd Conference of the 220 Diocesan Caritas held a few days ago in Assisi. Professor Papisca condemned “the current attempt to destroy the marvellous construction of world order founded on the international law of human rights”. He placed renewed emphasis on “the primacy of national interest” to the detriment of “supranational integration processes”. “Today there is much talk of relational goods, which ensure happiness to a much greater extent than economic goods do. I therefore believe that this network must primarily focus on relations, more than organizations. It ought to enable people to meet in moments of celebration, in the job environment and in moments of need”, was the advice addressed by Father Gian Paolo Salvini, director of the Jesuit review “Civiltà Cattolica”, during the workshop on “Network for the Globalization of Societies”, held within the conference. Father Salvini referred to the internet and to the market “since I believe we need to learn from these the dynamism and the enthusiasm which enables their continuation”. Father Salvini suggested to act “with discernment” when ” ìchoosing the networking partner”. In general, he underlined, “we can establish a connection with all those who share a common passion and a common vision of man and of society”, even though belonging to a different religion. A good example, according to the Jesuit priest, is the World Social Forum, created in 2001 in Porto Alegre, Brasil, which has reached its seventh edition (the last one was in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2007).
