CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Belgium: the bishops for the Countries’ reconciliationThe “Nationale feestdag” was an occasion for Belgium to reconsider its identity and its future. On July 21 recurred the celebrations for the day, in 1831, when king Leopold I was crowned first king of Belgium. At the ecumenical Te Deum celebration held in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Wavre participated also princess Astrid and prince Lorentz. Msgr. Jean-Luc Hudsyn, auxiliary bishop of Malines-Bruxelles for Walloon Brabant was asked to deliver the homily in which the prelate spoke of the value of the “communion” of the mission of the Church and highlighted the importance of “reconciling diversity”. A mission – he said – which has always been “difficult” and “conflictual”. It was always threatened by identity closures, by the temptation to fail to respect the originality of the other, failing to listen to his/her expectations”. The bishop thus recalled that “nothing great, fruitful or long-lasting can be created without the encounter with others”. “We ask God – he concluded – to give us the courage of this wisdom”. A similar celebration took place also in the cathedral of Lieges where also archbishop Aloys Jousten referred to the critical moment that is being experienced by Belgium and Europe as a whole. “Europe – he said – Beligium, every Country, everyone needs political unity. This unity doesn’t entail the repression of diversity. On the contrary”.Ireland: the apostolic nuncio recalled by the VaticanThe Vatican Press Office has released a statement announcing that the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, HE Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, has been recalled to Rome by the Secretary of State for “consultations”. The decision was taken, states the press release, “Following the publication on 13 July, of the Irish government’s Commission of Inquiry Report into allegations of abuse of minors by clergy from the diocese of Cloyne, otherwise known as the ‘Cloyne Report’ and, in particular, the reactions that have followed”. A few days ago, in a vehement attack on the Vatican Irish premier Enda Kenny argued that the Holy See had failed to carry out preventive measures against sexual abuses on minors by Catholic clergy. In response to the premier’s statement the director of the Vatican Press Office ensured that the Holy See had “appropriately” responded to the question raised by the Irish Government. In his statement Fr Lombardi also said that such “dramatic issue” need to be viewed with “necessary objectivity”. His words were echoed by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin. The Report, the third, ensuing those released in 2009, denounces a number of cases of cover-ups of sexual abuse on minors in the diocese of Cloyne, in County Cork in the years 1996-2009.England and Wales: a year after the Papal VisitationAlmost a year has passed since the visit of Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom, held September 16 to 19 2010. In view of the first anniversary the local Church called upon the faithful “to share your experiences” on the Papal Visitation. The anniversary of the Papal Visit will be celebrated 16 – 18 September, beginning with the re-establishment of the practice of Friday Penance on the 16 while Saturday 17 the faithful are all invited to share their photographs and reminiscences their memories and pictures of the meeting with the pope, offering their special prayer intentions for Benedict XVI. On Sunday September 18 all parishes are invited to carry out a fund collection to sustain the evangelization mission of the Church of England and Wales. On the same day will be celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the visit of the Holy Father, which coincides with Home Mission Sunday, celebrated by the local parishes. The theme this year is ‘Fresh Wind In Our Sails’. Msgr. Kieran Conry, responsible for evangelization and catechesis at the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, explained: “What we want to do on Home Mission Sunday this year is to say to people, ‘Fill your sails again with fresh wind. Pick up that enthusiasm and excitement again and let it blow through, blow away some of the dust that has sort of settled into corners and blow away some of the tiredness and indifference and apathy that’s crept into our own lives”. “Fill our sails again with that confidence and joy of being a Catholic.’ And so the focus on Home Mission Sunday is not to lose that impetus”. The faithful can email their stories at missionvolunteer@cbcew.org.uk.
