Poland: Assembly on the family in Gniezno”The crisis in the family accompanies Europe’s de-Christianization process”. Thus remarked Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, during the 8th Gniezno Assembly held in Poland March 12-14, dedicated to the family, “the hope of our continent”. In the Sunday homily, delivered in the Basilica of Gniezno the prelate criticized European elites, whose libertarianism leads to the legalization of abortion. Despite the ongoing crisis, His Eminence said, “the Holy Spirit has bestowed new movements, associations and communities upon contemporary Europe, along with Christian families, actively involved in parish life, constituting the benchmark for all Christians, for families in crisis and for non-believers”. The Assembly ended with a final statement: “the family ought to bear Christian witness in an ever-more united Europe”. “Our response to the crisis of the family – states the final message – consists in the attempt to highlight its positive understanding with testimony, reflection and action”. States’ family support is all the more important, underlined the 700 participants, “since the family is an establishment linking the individual to society which cannot be replaced”. In the closing remarks, the Primate of Poland Msgr. Henryk Muszynski underlined that although the meeting addressed the challenges and the difficulties experienced by European families, the “irrefutable” role of the family was never questioned. “All families experience the same problems, regardless of their religion and nationality. But it is also true that each religion strengthens the family. This Assembly will enable people to understand that they are not alone and that others too are faced with important and negative aspects”, concluded the Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich.Germany: the economy, between justice and subsidiarity “The introduction of an earnings basis without conditions represents a large-scale test with hardly appraisable effects”, said Msgr. Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and president of the Social Affairs Commission of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), on March 10, during a conference on minimum guaranteed wage held in Berlin, at the Academy of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation. The theme has gained topical relevance in Germany due to upcoming public assistance reforms. The archbishop called for fairer participation and for a subsidiary social State, in compliance with Catholic social doctrine. Msgr. Marx underlined whether “an earnings basis would actually better the conditions of those excluded from active participation until today”, and pointed out that “every person ought to be given the opportunity of being granted an active social role”. “Improving the possibility of participating in the job market” is therefore “a commandment dictated by justice”. For this reason the archbishop said he is “skeptical about the proposal of an earnings basis to the unemployed”. However, this position does “acknowledge the obligation to reform and further develop the welfare state”, he concluded.Ireland: near the families for 40 years”ACCORD”, a voluntary agency of the Irish Catholic church, which promotes a deeper understanding of Christian marriage and offers support and mediation at a time of conjugal and family crisis, celebrated its 40th anniversary on Saturday March 13. Bishop Willie Walsh, ACCORD chairman, emphasized the message of hope transmitted by Accord over the past 40 years: “Despite difficulties, many problems in marriage can either be prevented or overcome through timely intervention in the shape of marriage preparation or counseling”, he said. Commenting on figures for 2009 Ms Ruth Barror, National Director of ACCORD, said: “There was an 11% increase in the number of counselling hours provided last year by ACCORD which brought the number of counselling sessions provided to over 40,000. This highlights the fact that more couples are choosing to engage the assistance of professionals in order to work through difficulties that arise in their relationships. Seeking professional help in times of crisis is strongly encouraged by ACCORD”. Between 2007 and 2009 the number of clients presenting to ACCORD with financial problems increased by 71% while issues around the use of the internet increased by 87.5% The three areas listed by clients as being most problematic in their relationships are communication, stress and sexual intimacy.
