France: Cardinal Vingt-Trois addresses politiciansFrance has three reasons to hope: the recent visit of Pope Benedict XVI that brought to light the Country’s “living Catholic Church”; greater openness by citizens as relates to ethical issues and regarding the fact that despite being negative, the recent financial crisis shed light on the importance of a lifestyle based on sobriety. This was the picture of the Country that Cardinal Amdré Vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris and President of France’s bishops Conference, conveyed to politicians during the homily he delivered on Tuesday December 2 at the Sainte-Clotilde Basilica, on the occasion of a Mass for French political leaders. Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic trip to France disclosed the image of a “living and motivated” Church, that is distant from the “stereotyped view of an elderly church that is unable to involve the youth and is distant from reality”. “I shall by no means be triumphalist about it – His Eminence remarked – but I do think that this vitality can be a hope not only for Catholics, but also for society as a whole”. Another reason for hope is the greater openness of French citizens to “ethical questions”. “Today, the greater freedom to express different beliefs regarding the dignity and the future of man is a precious resource” the archbishop said, pointing out that: “our proposals aren’t aimed at imposing a specific stand. Rather, we wish to offer points of reflection in the dialogue we are all called to engage in”. Lastly, the Cardinal mentioned the financial crisis that in spite of the negative repercussions on everyone’s lives has shown that the “ongoing consumption increase can’t be the only engine of economic activity”. Belgium: Cardinal Danneels on the European meeting of Taizé”Brussels has a European vocation. People come from across Europe for meetings, for conventions, for the Parliament, for the European Commission. Nevertheless, there is one sector of our society which has not come, not yet: the youth”. With these words Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Brussels-Malines, explained in a press conference the reasons why he had decided to invite the Taizé Community in his city this year from 29 December to 2 January for the annual European youth meeting. “If we are proud, and we are,” added the Archbishop “of being the capital of Europe, we have to answer this vocation and be the meeting point for young people of all Europe”. Of the 40 thousand young people who are expected to attend the meeting, 30 thousand are coming from other nations. The appeal which had been launched last 20 November to find an accommodation for the different groups has raised in Brussels families “a wave of generosity”. The representatives of other Christian Churches have also spoken at the press conference. The president of the United Protestant Church in Belgium (EPUB) said the European meeting of Taizé has given “new impulse to the co-operation between Churches” and cited the example of Malines where Catholic and Protestant Churches are working together to welcome the youth”. Norway: the bishop on the cluster bombsThe Conference of the 100 world states that decided to endorse the banning of cluster bombs opened in Oslo on December 2 with a religious service in the Lutheran Church of Oslo, promoted by “Religions for Peace”, attended by political and religious dignitaries from different Countries. The sermon was delivered by the Catholic Bishop of Oslo Msgr. Bernt Ivar (Markus) Eidsvig, who referred to the States that failed to endorse the Treaty, that include the United States, Russia, China, India, Israel and Zimbabwe. “Refusing to sign this document – he said – entails tolerating indiscriminate destruction for an infinite amount of time”. The bishop pointed out that “thousands of people throughout over 20 countries have been killed” by cluster bombs while “thousands have been impaired”. “As religious representatives and as faithful, we shall continue praying, informing, and working until the last cluster bomb is eliminated and the affected areas are cleared”. “Our good will entails the ongoing expression of our disappointment and disapproval for those governments that didn’t sign the Convention. It’s our duty to spread the message of the survivors, make it be heard and seen. Only those who are indifferent to destruction and suffering can ignore this message”. “If we want to be the salt of the earth, as the Gospel says – the bishop concluded – we must enhance the effect of salt by protecting what is good and changing what is bad!”.
