Portugal: against human traffickingIn the final statement delivered by participants in the national meeting of the Secretariats of the pastoral of human mobility and chaplaincies of migrants, held a few days ago in Lamego, the Church called for “greater commitment in the fight against the scourge of human trafficking, which involves the Portuguese land as a Country of transit and of destination”. The final statement ensued several days of panel discussion chaired by the President of the Bishops’ Commission for Human Mobility Msgr. Antonio Vitalino, in coordination with the bishop emeritus of Bragança-Miranda, Msgr. Antonio Rafael, and of the bishop of Algarve, Msgr. Manuel Quintas. It states, “it is necessary to pressure parliament representatives to draw up a bill that will fill the legal void in this subject”. Church institutions are involved in the need “to step up the coordinated engagements of the Human Trafficking Victim Support Commission (Cavitip), notably the formation of the youth and of adults, along with information on this social scourge”. “A strong commitment to endow our services with qualified staff and provide legal support and assistance is needed, whilst relevant cross-sectional and sectorial policies for the integration of migrants and ethical minority groups ought to be implemented”. “From the ethical standpoint – conclude the bishops – as a Church we feel the obligation to condemn legislation that jeopardizes Human Rights, notably the violation of the right to emigrate and the duty of reception. We invite all Portuguese citizens to consider migrants as active social agents, and we wish to remind Catholics that each one of these persons have the right to share responsibilities in the erection of Christian communities and of Church institutions committed in the implementing of integration”. Poland: holidays also for poor families In Poland, this summer, the poor families will go “on holiday with God”. The campaign, aptly called “Holidays with God”, is organised by the Missionary Papal Services, Caritas and Catholic Action, for about 1800 children from the poor families of Czestochowa and the whole archdiocese of Czestochowa. Children and teenagers from families that are in financial straits or fall within the poorest classes of the population and do not have the financial resources to send their younger ones on holiday will now be able to enjoy some holidays and relaxation in July and August. “Our campaign is not just a charitable action, it also has an educational, social and Christian role. The holidays we organise are actually also an opportunity for Christian education”, explains mgr. Stanislaw Ilczyk, director of Caritas in the archdiocese of Czestochowa. “The holidays organised for more disadvantaged children also have a missionary value. Especially in this Priestly Year, we want to be close, as priests, to the children and teenagers who experience poverty every day, and we want to offer them some cheerful moment and a smile”, adds father Jacek Gancarek, director of the Missionary Papal Services at the archdiocese.Italy: a newspaper in the earthquake The ‘Number 0″ issue of the bi-weekly ‘Vola’, conceived by the diocese of L’Aquila to preserve communication among the many communities torn by the earthquake is being distributed in tent cities, hotels on the coast and in parish churches. The staff of ‘Vola’ – young and adults – hold their meetings in a tent in the encampment of Lucoli. In this initial phase the project enjoys the support of SIR news agency and of FISC – the Federation of Italian Catholic weeklies. The publication has twelve colour pages. “The review humbly wishes to brief on Christians’ lives, enhancing faith and the daily lives of people who experienced the tragedy of the earthquake”, said Father Claudio Tracanna, director of the Diocesan Office for Social Communications. Archbishop Msgr. Giuseppe Molinari equally addressed this subject in the note published in this same issue. “We must not forget – the archbishop wrote – that as Christians we are also men and women of hope. This does not mean that we are helpless dreamers. It does not mean that we are believe in fairy tales that are miles away from reality. Indeed, we are firmly rooted in the reality of this world and in its history”. Among the articles of the n°’O’ issue figures a contribution on the recovery of pastoral activity, which entails the reopening of those very churches and spaces damaged by the seismic activity. The publication equally presents the document of Abbruzzo-Molise bishops “God is near. Faith at the time of the earthquake” with numerous first-hand accounts and experiences.
