Holland: “rich and innovative” encyclical”Rich in thoughts, with reflections that can be shared; it would be a good thing if people were open to the ethical approach that the Pope develops in the encyclical”: that’s how the Most Rev. Huub Ernst, Archbishop Emeritus of Breda, describes Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in veritate” in a comment published on Holland’s “Katholieknederland” website. The archbishop, recalling “the global crisis in the economic field that is profoundly impacting on the lives of countless people”, says “It is to be hoped that Benedict XVI’s reflections may be put into practice, and that people’s approach to the economy may become an ethical approach, in the way it is developed in the encyclical”. “The space that the Pope dedicates to Paul VI’s Populorum progressio on the development of peoples is – continues Archbishop Ernst – significant, as also is his comparison of it with Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum novarum in terms of what it says about the condition of workers. Benedict XVI tries to forcefully to trace out a further advancement of the concept of integral human development, such as respect for life, which had been touched on by Paul VI”. Of the same view is Adalbert Denaux, head of the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Tilburg, who points out – on the same Dutch Catholic website – “the continuation of the social encyclicals of Benedict XVI’s predecessors” and describes as “innovative” the principle of “love in truth to be applied in the socio-economic field”. Spain: in memory of the 14 Basque priests killed in 1937 Not real and true funeral rites. Rather, “an act of reparation”, commemorating the death of 14 Basque priests took place July 11 in the Cathedral of the Basque city of Vitoria, to the presence of the bishop of the diocese Msgr. Miguel José Asurmendi Aramendia and of the bishops of Bilbao, Msgr. Ricardo Blázquez, of Saint Sebastian, Msgr. Juan María Uriarte, civil authorities and hundreds of religious. The names of the 14 priests fallen victim of Franco’s militia along with many others during Spain’s civil war (1936 – 1939) were read out loud during the ceremony. The bishops decided that their identity be preserved in the diocese’s archives. In particular, a section with their biographies will be published on the official Bulletin across dioceses and their names will be inserted in the relative diocesan and parish registers. At the time of their murder, occurred in 1937 after summary proceedings, the religious were not given exequies and their names were not registered in parish archives. “These victims deserve our prayers and our memory. Justice needed to be established”, was stated during the homily. This initiative marks the beginning of a process for the “purification of memory”. As the prelates explained in the pastoral letter written for the occasion “Purifying memory, serving the truth and pleading forgiveness”, “by purifying memory serving truth, pleading and offering forgiveness, we look at the past in order to create a new present and a new future”. Lithuania: Cardinal Backis to the President of the Republic During the Mass for the new Presidency of the Lithuanian Republic – EU Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite was elected President in May – Cardinal Sudrys Juozas Backis, archbishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) remarked, “A great deal of courage is needed to live according to the principles that God instilled in man’s conscience. Even greater courage is needed in proclaiming them. God created us to be in the community, and individual behaviour always affects the community”. President-elect Dalia Grybauskaite (the first woman holding office as President of Lithuania) swore-in at Vilnius’ Parliament yesterday. “Only a brave person examines her mistakes and seeks advice. Only a brave person will defend the weak at the risk of being misunderstood”, His Eminence said. The truth “is like a magnet, which attracts other people and inspires hope”, the Cardinal pointed out, “the hope that truth and justice can triumph on earth”. Then, a reflection on work: “Each job has its value not because the media and the people speak about it or for the amount it is paid, but because of the amount of love and sacrifice with which it is fulfilled. Jobs performed with love have everlasting value”.Italy: the “loan of hope”In presenting the “Loan of hope” in Rome on July 14, the initiative promoted by CEI in conjunction with Italian Banks (ABI) to help the families in dire straits, CEI Secretary General Msgr. Mariano Crociata said that the ongoing crisis in the economy “has involved citizens that never squandered”. “We voice concerns that are neither minor nor few”. In illustrating the “loan”, Msgr. Crociata spoke of “a micro-credit for families based on a national collection promoted by the Italian Bishops’ Conference”.The initiative envisages an annual loan of 6 thousand euro for families indicated by Caritas. This sum will enable them to cover education, health and daily expenses. Families will pay back the loan a 4.5% interest rate following a 5-year amortization plan starting 12 months after the loan has been granted.
