Croatia: attacks against the Church on the increase Croatian bishops voiced their concern over the increasing number of attacks expressed against the Church and against freedom of expression. In a reunion held a few days ago in Zagreb at the Bishops’ Conference, the Commission for Justice and Peace chaired by Msgr. Vlado Kosic expressed “regret over the fact that the day for the commemoration of the victims of totalitarian regimes was not celebrated in Croatia past August 23rd, despite the encouragement of the European Parliament. The anti-democratic sentiments of those who wish to prevent public acknowledgement of the truth of past historical events are gaining ground”. The Commission denounced “the increasing attacks against the Church and against her freedom of expression”. However, the Commission appreciated Croatia’s political institutions’ availability “to address unsolved questions regarding the border with neighboring states in the spirit of international law and according to arbitration agreements of the Badinter Commission (entrusted by the EU with settling the dissolution of ex-Yugoslavia in 1991)”. For this reason Croatian bishops appealed to Croatia’s “scientific and cultural institutions” so they may support “these efforts and decisions and prevent requests and concessions with no legal basis from undermining the hardly-attained peace and security of nations and Countries in this part of Europe and of the world”. England: Friday, fasting in poor Countries Fasting during the period of harvest to share our common riches. This is the significance of the “Harvest fast day” launched by CAFOD, the most important Catholic charity for aid and fund-collection to Third World Countries. On Friday October 2 thousands of people in schools and parishes across the United Kingdom will give up their lunches to collect money for the world’s poorest people. During the same week Catholic schools will promote sponsored events like walks, sport competitions, and costume competitions for charity. Last year the Harvest Fast Day collected 1.4 million Euro and 1.78 million euro the previous year. “This year CAFOD didn’t choose a specific recipient – said the charity’s spokesperson Nana Anto-awuakye – We will send the money to those who most need it”. Margaret di Mathare, in Kenya is one of those in dire need of support. Her story is reported on CAFOD’s website (cafod.org): she had a job as a supervisor at a food production company making ice cream and sweets. First she became one of the redundancies and then her house was burned to the ground during the riots. Her teaching job it not enough to support her children’s basic needs. CAFOD states that high exchange rates caused by the recession mean that the financial support offered is worth one-third less than last year. The charity’s website provides material that can be used in parishes and schools and a prayer to God, that He may inspire people to feed the poor and bring freedom from oppression.Germany: the first environment-friendly church On September 27 a Mass celebrated by the bishop of Eichstatt, Msgr. Gregor Maria Hanke, inaugurated the first environment-friendly church in Dietenhofen, Bayern. The church of Saint Boniface receives energy from renewable sources. Energy is produced with photovoltaic power systems installed on the roof and is heated with a geothermic plant. As reported by Karl Frey, in charge of the diocese’ works and project, the building was erected in compliance with neutral energy balance. It is the first Church of this kind. Construction materials include glass, steel and marble for the floor. The church is built on the premises of a small church in bad conditions, dating back to 1956, which was too small for the Catholics of Dietenhofen (approximately 1000). The new church can contain up to 125 faithful. Overall costs amounted to approximately 4 million euro.
