CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Italy: Cardinal Scola, “more solidarity””The need to tackle the crisis by preserving internal and international solidarity is particularly evident in the European case”, said Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, intervening with a videomessage at the Summer School 2011 of the School for Advanced Studies Society, Economy Theology (ASSET) which is now being held in Venice on the initiative of the Studium Generale Marcianum (from 14 to 17 September) on “The Whole Breadth of Reason: Rethinking Economics and Politics”. “The recurrent waves of speculative attacks that have involved many countries of the eurozone – emphasized the Archbishop of Milan – raise questions about the functioning of the monetary union and the possibility of balancing internal fiscal reforms and initiatives of mutual support”. Citing recent statements of Benedict XVI, Cardinal Scola stressed the “need to insert this debate in a wider perspective. European countries in fact have a global responsibility: on the one hand, the financial turbulences have strongly negative consequences on countries apparently peripheral to financial movements, in particular through a sharp fluctuation of the prices of raw materials; on the other hand, a sustainable growth of prosperity must be inclusive” or “risk being compromised by excessive inequalities”. To responsibly look to the future, “as again Benedict XVI has urged”, we need, according to the Archbishop of Milan, “to reconstruct real relations of trust that are able to mobilise the energies and dynamism of man”.Albania: in Tirana “Justice and Peace” in Europe From 16th to 20th September, Albania will host the yearly meeting and the general assembly of the European “Justice and Peace” commissions about “Inter-religious and intercultural relations – opportunities and challenges for our solidarity. An Albanian contribution to the building of Europe”. The delegates of 30 European national commissions will be received by the archbishop of Tirana, mgr. Rrok Mirdita, and by the archbishop of Shkodre, mgr. Angelo Massafra. Several religions have been living together in Albania for some time, in mutual understanding and mutual respect. They are Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, Bektashi and Protestant devotees. “The model of Albania – according to the promoters of the meeting – can therefore be a good contribution to the building of Europe”. That is why the delegates of the “Justice and Peace” commissions will have an opportunity to meet several religious communities in different cities. They will share their experiences and will discuss them at a workshop. The Conference of the European “Justice and Peace” commissions (www.juspax-eu.org) is a European network, which is now composed of 30 national commissions, each one acknowledged by its own Bishops Conference. Slovenia: the third Social Week From 19th September to 24th September, the Slovenian Bishops Conference will be promoting the third Social Week in Slovenia. This year’s Week will be focused on “raising civil awareness of the citizens’ rights, with two related themes: developing a proactive role in society and contributing to Slovenia’s and the European Union’s vision in the future”. The organizers of the Social Week in Slovenia, as stated in a release, involved the citizens, “urging them to independently prepare meetings, workshops and debates on the theme in different areas of Slovenia”. Hence “a calendar with over thirty meetings about several themes, all over the nation. Global issues, then, proposed and discussed by the local communities to reflect together on the common future”. One of such initiatives is an invitation to bloggers “to contribute to the Social Week with at least one post on the focal theme. Last year experience saw the digital world send in lots of good ideas”. Info: www.rkc.si.Austria: a missionary reform in the archdiocese A “missionary reform” in the Archdiocese of Vienna: it was announced by Card. Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of the capital and president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, in an editorial for the collaborator magazine of the Archdiocese “Thema Kirche”, published by the Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress. “The first task given by Jesus to his Church – Schönborn pointed out – is to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world. The Church is not the goal: her main task is mission”. Hence the importance of a “missionary reform” which must be the “criterion for all our actions”. The cardinal then spoke of the reform process undertaken in the diocese three years ago and of previous diocesan assemblies. “Now – he observed – we have to move from reflection to action”. As for the future of parishes, Schönborn believes that some tasks of parish priests and pastoral assistants will change in the future. But what really matters is that “we encourage one another in being Christians”. “The number of priests is less important than the contribution each of those who follow Christ can make to making the Kingdom of God visible on earth, even today in Austria”.
