Portugal: Christian entrepreneurs against the crisis The 4th Congress of Christian proprietors and entrepreneurs Association (ACEGE) closed a few days ago at the Catholic University in Lisbona. “Despite the widely felt mistrust of entrepreneurs in our Country, I believe that most of them are doing a remarkable job in addressing social problems with an extremely courageous approach”, said Antonio Pinto Leite, vice-chairman of the Association, in the final press conference. “Portugal’s enterprises are marked by a community atmosphere and by the awareness that jobs ought to be preserved. In this sense, Christian entrepreneurs must acting as role models”, he added. “The idea of an ongoing conflict between entrepreneurs and employees is a media fabrication triggered by a restricted number of such cases”. Leite pointed out: “This attitude is far from that of Portugal’s enterprises. In fact, small and medium enterprises are showing a great deal of common sense. Indeed, staff cuts are necessary in some cases, since enterprise managers can’t oppose the national needs of economic science. But as the Cardinal-Patriarch remarked, this is legitimate from the social viewpoint and shouldn’t be viewed as a sin against God”. “The serious ongoing crisis demands a peaceful and courageous approach. We exhort all entrepreneurs to continue acting with a firm and responsible ethical approach. This will enable the overcoming of the current phase of difficulty which involves a large number of workers and their families”, ACEGE representative concluded. Germany: the letter for First Communion children Approximately 20.000 children in the archdiocese of Freiburg received a letter in which the city’s archbishop, Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, congratulates them upon their First Communion. The Letter was distributed past April 19 on the occasion of White Sunday. “I am writing you because I feel close to you and you are important for me”, Zollitsch wrote, who explained the meaning of faith community and closeness. “As happens with bicycles, the chain connects the pedal to the wheel. Thus Jesus wishes to unite people in a strong faith community”, he explained. “Preserve your relationship with Jesus and with other Christians in your parish and in your pastoral centre”, exhorts the archbishop, since “together life is more beautiful and more coloured”. At the end of the two-page letter, Zollitsch invited First Communion children to a large family meeting due to be held next June 28 in Freiburg, “a special occasion to live the community of faith in the archdiocese. And it would be wonderful to meet you in person”, he concluded. Scotland: stem cells, “worrying cooperation” The Church of Scotland voiced its concern over a joint Chinese-Scottish project on stem cell research. The “Scottish Catholic Observer” reported the news. Accordingly, Scotland’s Prime Minister Alex Salmond gave the green light to a project that enjoys the cooperation of the Centre for regenerative medicine of the University of Edinburgh and a research centre in Beijing specialized in stem cell research. Sir Ian Wilmut, the father of the sheep Dolly, signed the cooperation project on behalf of the Scottish centre. “The fact that Scottish scientists cooperate in this field is unethical and doomed to failure, and is reason for great concern”, said a spokesperson of the Catholic Church of Scotland, who explained that the Church opposes research on human embryo stem cells but not research on adult stem cells. Commenting on the new regulation on embryology and human fertilization that promotes experiments on embryo stem cells, Cardinal O’Brien said that it will allow for “grotesque” and “horrible” techniques aimed at creating hybrid embryos for research purposes, a procedure that has been outlawed in many Countries. Czech Republic: the bishops’ assembly On April 22 the 76th Plenary assembly of the bishops of the Czech Republic (CBK) took place. According to CBK press office, during the meeting the prelates discussed the updating of a number of pastoral documents along with preparations in view of the possibility that Benedict XVI might pay a pastoral visit to the Czech Republic. The bishops equally discussed the pastoral plan for the Jubilee of 2013, which commemorates the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius, in Moravia. Speakers included Vlastimil Picek, Chief of Staff of the army of the Czech Republic, who highlighted the support of military chaplains.
