chURCHES IN BRIEF
Ireland: in support of pregnant womenThe 34th the annual conference of CURA, the crisis pregnancy agency set up by the Irish Bishops’ Conference in 1977 took place in Athlone on April 1-2. The auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Armagh Msgr. Gerard Clifford addressed 159 delegates attending the meeting and underlined the objectives of the Agency. “We live in a changing world where attitudes like independence, self expression and freedom are very much part of the changing society. People are generally better-educated and informed than in previous generations. However, this does not mean that if a crisis occurs in their life – such as an unplanned pregnancy – it is any easier to manage today than it would have been in previous generations”. The bishop conveyed his appreciation to CURA volunteer workers for providing services such as pregnancy tests, support to women during pregnancy, social welfare information, along with support to mums after the birth of a baby. The purpose of the conference was also to establish if CURA’s institutional goals, namely providing help and support to women with unplanned pregnancies, have actually been respected. The process – that began in September 2010 and is scheduled to be completed by this October – involves three phases: review, planning and implementation. The latter include post-abortion counselling, crisis pregnancy counselling for the baby’s father and other family members; schools awareness programme.England: “for a new social responsibility””Building a New Culture of Social Responsibility”: it is the theme of the Conference due to be held April 6 in London on the initiative of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The purpose of the meeting is “to identify the challenges and opportunities for Catholic social action in the light of the developing social and economic context, exploring new ways to promote Church commitment in social action and identifying more efficient ways to cooperate with the government, with other Churches and religious faiths”. The meeting will be attended by Catholic Primate Msgr. Vincent Nichols, Baroness Warsi, by the director of the Institute Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson, who serves as Minister in David Cameron’s government, by Helen O’Brien, director of Caritas Social Action Network, by the archbishop of Southwark, Msgr. Peter Smith, along with other political representatives. Catholic journalist Edward Stourton, a renowned BBC commentator, will moderate the meeting. The conference ensues the publication of the pastoral note titled, “A Call for Deeper Social Engagement” past November, issued by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. During his visit to the UK the Pope had invited churches and public authorities to step up cooperation for the benefit of all citizens.Austria: the youth towards MadridHundreds of young people from all over Austria met over the past days in Vienna to attend the “Vamos” festival, in preparation for the World Youth Day (WYD) due to be held in Madrid from August 16-21. “Each one of us needs solid roots – card. Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, told the assembly – our roots are solid thanks to Baptism in Jesus Christ”. The Cardinal thus continued his catechesis on the theme of the WYD “Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith” and concluded by inviting young people to live Christianity with joyful commitment: “even though the term ‘virtue’ is out of fashion, today it bears topical relevance more than ever before!” The Day’s schedule included the sharing of personal experiences. A young man gave an account of his pilgrimage to Spain, in Santiago de Compostela, while a nun spoke of her vocation that she discovered during a WYD. After Mass the young undertook a procession leading to the Benedictine Schottenstift monastery, where they confessed and took part in the Eucharistic Adoration. The Salesian youth movement of Austria also took part in the meeting, and announced their participation in Madrid with 85 young people. According to the program, coordinated with the Spanish Salesians, the youth will spend the first days in Barcellona to learn more about the Country’s culture and traditions. On August 16 they will travel to Madrid to attend the World Youth Day with Benedict XVI, along with over one million peers.
