Ukraine: no to political manipulationAn admonition to politicians to not manipulate the Church for their own purposes was conveyed by patriarch Lubomyr Husar, head of Ukraine’s Greek-Catholic Church, in view of the elections planned in the Country on October 31st. “Politicians – remarked Cardinal Husar – want to involve priests in their electoral campaign, since they are well aware that the Church is the social establishment which enjoys the highest degree of public trust”. “Although they never attended church services”, adds cardinal Husar, “politicians approach the priests and during their electoral campaigns political candidates want priests to be present with them in public events”. But the Church, he said, “cannot be used for their personal interest”. These actions, therefore, “cannot be approved”. “I can accept that a truly faithful candidate, an active member of the ecclesial community, might enjoy a certain degree of support”, but also in this case it is “inappropriate conduct”.Malta: declaration on conscience and divorce To be clear “about the teaching of the Church” and “shed light on the moral responsibility of all Maltese citizens before their own conscience and for the common good of society, in case they were asked to take a stand on a bill providing for the legalization of divorce in our Country”. The objective of the “Declaration on conscience and divorce” released October 13 in Malta was explained by its seven signatories: theologians Emmanuel Agius and father Charlo’ Camilleri, O.Carm; father Joe Borg; Msgr. Anton Gouder, pro-vicar general; father Alfred Micallef; father Joe Mizzi, director of tal-Moviment ta’ Kana and Rev. Fr. Peter Serracino Inglott. First of all, they remark, each citizen “has the right to follow his own conscience, which must be informed and well-formed, seeking to benefit the common good”. Catholics should clearly bear in mind Church teaching as relates to family and marriage, “and bear witness to them in all circumstances”. “As Catholics and citizens – states the document – they should be committed for the accomplishment of stable and long-lasting marriages, of strong families united by love and faithfulness”, as this brings “major benefit to society as a whole”. “For us Catholics – the declaration clarifies – even though it is provided for by the law, divorce is wrong”. According to the signatories of the document, “Those Catholics who are not concerned about having an informed and formed conscience and wish to decide for themselves, opting to follow their own feelings” rather than “the Word of God, must be aware that they are not fulfilling their duties as Catholics” and that “they are responsible for their behaviour before God”. Those who although they have been informed “and have attempted to reach the truth, in full conscience believe they should not vote against the pro-divorce legislation” have “the right and duty to follow their own conscience”, states the document. For those facing “two choices, each of which detrimental to the common good – the declaration concludes – it is legitimate, in the case of conflict, to choose the lesser of two evils after having prayed, reflected and truly sought the truth”.Spain: “don Guanella” on the road towards Santiago The last 120 km of the Way, the most treaded stretch, tramped on by thousands of pilgrims from all age groups on their journey from Sarria to Santiago, provide no form of spiritual assistance. For this reason on October 10 a small Guanellian community was set up by two priests in Arca, on the French route, offering the possibility of celebrating the sacraments (confession and Eucharist), of gathering in prayer accompanied by spiritual – and material – reception, such as taking a shower, having a meal or resting, following the monastic assistance of the Middle Ages. Arca is “a small town with a thousand inhabitants” explain the Guanellian Fathers, “who every evening each evening are joined by 1500 pilgrims; not to mention of the summer months of June and July when there are up to 4 thousand people”. The project “stems from the yearning to intercept in one of the highest European youth gatherings questions on meaning and interior quest, to address this quest or elicit it through the witness of a community devoted to prayer and to the poor”. Along with the spiritual care of pilgrims, the Guanellian religious provide spiritual assistance to the three parishes inside the town. “They might become four in two or three years’ time – continue the Guanellians -The project’s initial phase envisages “cultivating the relationship with the two sister communities in Spain that are providing much support and help”, and the “communion of intentions with the vocational Guanellian homes in Europe”. The project was conceived in the Compostelan Holy Year, when the Church released the news of the upcoming canonization of its founder, Blessed Luigi Guanella.
