CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Slovenia: bishops, “vote wisely””Elections are the most important time in the life of a democratic society. It is actually the only chance we have, as citizens, to directly decide our future. That is why taking part in the elections and responsibly and carefully choosing the right nominees are an important moral obligation, that comes from our joint responsibility for the material and spiritual wellbeing of all the population of Slovenia”. This was written by the Slovenian bishops, in the run-up to the forthcoming political election of December 4th. So, the prelates call “all believing fellow countrymen and any other citizen to reliably take part in the elections and vote wisely. Everyone’s vote is equally important and equally necessary”. Therefore, the bishops point out, “we cannot light-heartedly skip the election and giving up on our dignity as free citizens who know how to take on some responsibility for our community”. Then, the prelates stated that, “since the latest election, the situation in Slovenia has dramatically changed and has actually worsened. We are in a deep economic and moral crisis”. That is partly why, the bishops point out, “it is very important that you think well about your choice and give your vote to that political party which you can expect to respect and assert the fundamental rights and key factors for our better future”. First and foremost, “it is a rule of law, that must therefore assert the principle of justice and honesty and lay the foundations for a sound economic development, with new jobs and a fair sharing of wealth”. “We need – they warn – a democratic state, that respects life and human dignity, that protects the family, that pays due attention to educating the young to those values which an honest, happy life is based on, and that is concerned about supporting people in need and people going through a difficult time, and a healthy environment”. “As Catholics – they go on -, we will also have to be careful and elect nominees that acknowledge the importance of Christian values in society and that have proven, in their milieu, to deserve to be trusted”. Finally, the bishops mention the “known and ever-relevant words” of the Blessed bishop Anton Martin Slomek: “Once again, I tell you: vote wisely, choose well; you will sleep in the bed you make for yourself”.Slovakia: the first on-line media dictionaryCatholic University of Ruzomberok, Slovakia, has recently come out with several interesting projects. One of them is creation of on-line media dictionary for future journalists. According to Peter Oleksak, main coordinator of the project, prorector of university and referee of educational programme of journalism, this type of explanatory dictionary, covering professional terminology in the area of journalism and religion, doesn’t exist in Slovakia yet. Therefore it will be a significant contribution not only to the process of education itself but also for the society and whole media market. “With implementation of this project we’ll support the use of new methods and forms of education at universities, like advancement of distance forms of study, on-line access, e-learning”, explains Oleksak. Creation of new on-line media vocabulary is sponsored by the Cultural and educational grant agency of the Ministry of education, science, research and sport of the Slovak republic.Germany: guidelines for obsequies The German Bishops Conference (Dbk) published a text about adapting to the changes that have taken place over the years in the culture of obsequies in Germany. It was announced by Dbk in a release. “People are owed value and dignity, not just in life but even after death”, the bishop state in the document, which intends to respond to the new needs that have appeared in this respect: as a matter of fact, in Germany, many people tend to prefer anonymous burial places or burial places other than cemeteries. The release states that these are “new forms resulting from people’s mobility, the increasing loneliness of elderly people, a drop in religiosity, and even the wish not to be a burden on one’s children”. However, the bishops warn, “a society’s culture of obsequies is also an expression of its humanity and its relation with the living ones. It is precisely the Catholic culture of the obsequies that hides the treasure of an approach full of dignity to the dead and their relatives, of pity and ritual values that have been experienced for such a long time”.
