Switzerland: the bishops for Congo and the mediaThe “silent genocide” in Congo and the Church’s commitment in the media realm were the main issues addressed during the 282nd ordinary Assembly of Switzerland’s Bishops Conference, held December 1-2 at the seminary of St-Beat in Lucerne. “Swiss bishops and territorial abbots are worried” for “the tragic situation marked by civil strife in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo” is written in a statement of the CES, that quotes the letter sent by the prelates past December 1st to the president of Congolese bishops, Msgr. Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, conveying solidarity and support “to Congo’s bishops’ plea requesting a peace stabilization force that would restore legality in the Country”. CES members acknowledged the commitment of “Action de Carême”, Swiss Caritas, Justice and Peace and related Church bodies in favour of the Congolese population and expressed their encouragement to “continue along this path”. The bishops then analyzed the report of Msgr. Jean-Paul Rüttman regarding Catholic commitment in the media in Italian Switzerland – the third part, after the reports on the German and French areas, regarding the survey conducted in 2006 -, and called for “the need to improve planning, coordination and management of Church communication at regional and national level”. With the support of a number of experts, Msgr. Rüttman is working on a “Business-Plan” in this field, aimed at identifying priorities and action for the renewal of Catholic media. The bishops then proceeded to the appointment of the new members of the Commission for the media for 2009-2012 and voiced their gratitude to Father Albert Longchamp, “for his diversified and fruitful commitment at the lead” of the Commission, a position he will be leaving at the end of the year. Until the appointment of the new president, the Commission will be chaired by vice-president André Kolly.With reference to the colloquium on Church-State relations held in November, the bishops have decided to set up a team of experts in charge of expanding and clarifying related issues, after the approval of the report of “ForModula” the working-team of experts in charge of planning a new modular training system for non-university ministries. At the end of the assembly, CES members held a two-day retreat with the Council of the federation of Protestant Churches in Switzerland. Italy: the 40 years of Avvenire”If a Catholic reader is looking for a newspaper that will always prove him right, to the point of identifying with its headlines and editorials, I’m afraid that Avvenire is not for him. But if he wants a paper that delves into the truth of events based on a clear and unbiased vision of life, a newspaper that stimulates him, that makes different choices, in that case, we can become friends”, said Dino Boffo, editor-in-chief of the Catholic newspaper “Avvenire” – that Paul VI had strongly wanted to be established – on the occasion of its 40th anniversary December 4. “Avvenire wishes to be the indispensable tool of those Catholics and those parish communities that appreciate critical thinking, acknowledging that the media are the major agents of culture, models of thought and lifestyles”, Mr. Boffo declared. In order to become free citizens and resolved Christians, the comprehension of contemporary society and mankind are crucial”. During the Eucharist celebrated December 4 in the Basilica of Saint Ambrose for the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the daily, Card. Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, highlighted the “originality” and the irreplaceable character of “Avvenire”, that he described as the “voice” of the Catholics, which “plays a unique role in the landscape of Italian newspapers”. The Cardinal voiced his hope that “Avvenire “continue airing the true words” with firmness and clarity, amidst the mounting confusion of our times, in a climate of relativism that affects all expressions of truth, making them partial and inconsistent, if not completely void”. It was Sunday, December 1st 1968, when Bologna’s daily “L’Avvenire d’Italia” and Milan’s newspaper “L’Italia” bid farewell to their readers. However, it wasn’t the end of the patrimony of ideas, values, nor of human and professional energies. All that changed was the “container” of this patrimony that was given the name “Avvenire”. Established at a time of major social and cultural changes, “Avvenire” is the only Catholic daily with a national edition. “Starting today, and day after day, following the ups and downs of the news, we will endeavour to proceed along the path undertaken by Catholics over one-hundred years ago”, wrote Leonardo Valente, chief editor of the new daily, in his first op-ed. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary, www.avvenire.it, the new website of the Catholic newspaper, is online.
