Religions and the media The Episcopal Commissions for Communication of Portugal and Spain met a few days ago in Braga to reflect on the theme: “Social communication amidst laity and laicism: obstacles and possibilities”. Panellists analyzed the treatment of Catholicism on the part of the media in both countries. At the end of the meeting the Portuguese and Spanish bishops issued a statement asking that greater space be devoted to God in the media and that the sensitivities of Catholic faithful be respected. “The media – is written in the statement – are a gift bestowed by God upon the human person so that he/she many develop his/her communication capacities and create a free, peaceful and democratic society”. The prelates, acknowledging their “value within contemporary society, along with the new communication technologies, reiterated the need” of their “service to Church mission”. This of course “cannot be separated from the need to give priority to a critical, mature and responsible use of social communications media, notably among the youth, so that they may give their crucial contribution, along with the family and the school environment, to the formation of the human person and of social and political life”. Before secularization, and given the widespread claim to relegate the religious dimension to the private sphere, the bishops “reaffirm the Catholics’ right and duty to show their Christian view of life”. Not only: “they reaffirm the right and the duty of the Church to present, through her own tools, and through the presence of Catholics in public and private media channels, Christianity’s response to the questions of contemporary men and women”. At the same time, in recognition of the right to religious freedom and expression of sound laicism, they “claim the respect for Catholic sensitivity in social communications media and the duty to claim it legitimately”. The final balance of Church activity in the year 2007 Over the past days Spain’s Bishops’ Conference presented “the supporting activity statement” for the financial year 2007. The Vice-Secretariat for Economic affairs of Spain’s Bishops’ Conference requested a survey on the activity of the Catholic Church in Spain. Related findings show that priests and pastoral workers in churches across Spain devote over 46 million hours to pastoral and liturgical activity. The said activity entails, for example, the celebration of over 5 million Eucharistic celebrations each year or the formation of more than one million children and youth in the parishes. Figures relating to charitable activity were equally remarkable. 4,459 welfare centres of the Church provided support to 2,955,132 people in the year 2007. In the realm of education, 1.277.256 pupils are studying in Catholic centres. Not only do officially recognised Catholic schools transmit to the youth values of humanity and coexistence stemming from the Gospel. According to the survey, public administration was spared the expense of 3,372 million euro for the year 2007. This saved amount is the difference between the cost of a pupil studying in public school establishment and the sum allocated for a pupil in a legally recognized Catholic school in compliance with Church-State agreements. In the cultural realm, the Statement enhances the Church contribution to the preservation of 30% of monuments located across the Country.In favour of lifeOver forty civil bodies organized an event promoting the right to life of pregnant mothers, protesting the Government’s initiative of free abortion. Demonstrators will march on the streets of Madrid next October 17. Presenting the event to the press a few days ago, the spokesperson of “The Right to Life” (DAV), Gádor Joya, said that DAV would solicit “the Government to refrain from implementing the most violent and radical abortion plan in Europe”. “Our 100.000 volunteers will do their utmost to promote the success of October’s event, expressing the freedom and independence of society before the rulers’ imposition and abuse”. On his part, Ignacio Arsuaga, President of HazteOir.org, another platform committed in the defense of life, ensured the support of his organization that will consist in “mobilizing our network of active citizens, through the web 2.0, in order to work from now until next October with the objective of the greatest civic mobilization ever experienced in our Country”. Involved bodies include, the Association for the defence of conscientious objection (ANDOC); Spain’s Confederation of teaching centres (CECE); juridical study centre Thomas Moore; the Confederation of pupils’ parents (COFAPA); National Catholic Confederation of family parents and parents of pupils (CONCAPA); Right to life (DA); E-Christians; Spanish Federation of pro-life associations (FEAPV); Spanish Federation of numerous families (FEFN); Spanish forum for the family; RedMadre Foundation; Vita Foundation; HaztOír.org, United for life. This is the second largest public mobilization against abortion, ensuing the pro-life March of past March 29.
