A favourable proposal

The centrality of the family for the future of Europe was the main theme of the 40th general assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) which met in Zagreb, in Croatia, from 30 September to 3 October. The plenary assembly discussed the question “Demography and family in Europe” through a survey promoted among the different Bishops’ Conferences. The European bishops, says a CCEE press release, “were able to assess the risks of a demography in continual decline, especially in social and cultural terms. Faced with such a situation, the model of the Christian family, which welcomes the presence of Jesus and lives according to the truth of the family, is a favourable proposal to promote and to propose to everyone”. During the discussions, the plenary assembly unanimously approved the request of Mgr. Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, “to be able to follow more closely the work of CCEE’s Plenary Assemblies in his role as Ordinary for Latin Rite Catholics in Cyprus. Henceforth, the Patriarch of Jerusalem will participate in the CCEE Plenary Assemblies as a permanent guest”. In addition, the assembly unanimously approved the establishment of a European Information Portal of the CCEE and the setting up of a European Intranet system “aimed at improving collaboration between the various Bishops’ Conferences in Europe”. In the course of the meeting new regulations were approved for CCEE’s commissions and discussion also focused on dialogue with the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the work of the CCEE-CEC Joint Committee.Serious concerns. The assembly also discussed the “question of gypsies”. “Conscious of the seriousness of the problem, the Presidents agree on the fact that Governments define their own immigration policies, but they also ask what the Church can and must do to improve dialogue between pastoral needs, the rights of a community and political needs”. The participants at the assembly also heard a presentation on the structure and work of the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe. As for dialogue with the European Union, “the Presidents believe it is important that the Bishops’ Conferences take it upon themselves to be aware of the European problems for the good of their own countries”. At the same time, they were also able to “appreciate the manifold activities and numerous areas of work in which COMECE is involved”. The Presidents “believed it to be highly significant that 21 European countires have officially declared themselves to be in support of Italy in the adjudication at the Court of Human Rights about the placing of a crucifix in a public place in Italy (Hearing in the Grand Chamber of the Court on 30 June 2010)”. On the other hand, they “expressed serious concerns about the report” that the Council of Europe will discuss and put to the vote on 7 October to “limit the possibility of conscientious objection for doctors and medical personnel”. “The most problematic aspect of the text” to be discussed “lies in the fact that it recommends that the 47 member States of the Council limit the right of conscientious objection for medical personnel on the grounds that this would make access ‘to abortion’, which is considered a ‘right’, difficult”. The document in question is prepared to “contradict what appears to be a great achievement of European culture and jurisprudence: freedom of conscience. It is a reversal of moral judgement: abortion becomes a right and conscientious objection is seen with suspicion, in some way as immoral”.Fundamental values. At the end of their plenary assembly, the bishops issued a final message which underlines the “clear demographic decline” in Europe. An influence on this, the bishops concede, is undoubtedly exerted by “the type of family policies that the various countries establish, but this does not seem sufficient to explain the severe and generalized decline in the birth rate that is described as a ‘demographic winter'”. The widespread cultural climate, in fact, “impacts greatly on personal and social behaviour”. As far as Catholics are concerned, says the message, “it is essential to grow in a more conscious and documented faith to be able to evaluate in a critical way the dominant culture that has placed in question such values as human life from inception to natural end, the person in his objective structure, freedom as moral responsibility, fidelity, love and family”. Apart from “keeping our faith well rooted and alive”, we need “to believe in the capacity of reason to discover the truth of things in themselves and of ethics”. According to the Presidents, “a substantial mistrust in human reason seems to characterize so-called post-modernity” and “the presence of the Catholic Church, in this context, must be inspired by hope”. We are convinced, add the bishops, that “the human conscience is able to open itself to the values present in our nature created and redeemed by God by means of Jesus Christ” and the Church “recalls the anthropological and social implications that derive from Him”. That’s why “she does not cease to affirm the fundamental values of life, marriage between a man and a woman, the family, and freedom of religion and of education: values on which is implanted and guaranteed every other value enunciated at the social and political level”. What emerged during the assembly, in all its urgency, is “the educational task according to the millenarian patrimony of the Church”: a task that finds in Christ “the Master, the model and the source of grace”.