CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Hungary: year of the new evangelization in diocesesTwo Hungarian dioceses have organised a “thematic year” dedicated to the new evangelisation to prepare for the Year of Faith proclaimed by Benedict XVI for the period 11 October 2012-24 November 2013. The bishop of the diocese of Szombathely, Mgr. Andras Veres, issued a letter on 1st January to launch the Year of the New Evangelisation, calling on the faithful to pray for new vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life; the bishop asked them to continue to pray for the families and to renew their baptismal vows in order to live a life according to the Gospel: “The more Christians will bear witness to the faith today, the more we can hope that the next generation too will choose Christian life, the only salvation”. A prayer prepared expressly for the occasion will be read out at masses in all churches of the diocese. Bishop Antal Spanyi, for his part, is opening on January 25 in the diocese of Szekesfehervar the Year of the New Evangelisation. The focus will be on John Paul II’s thoughts: “To look for man where he lives and give him the joy of faith”. According to Mgr. Spanyi, society is not the only one that needs the new evangelisation, for churchgoers too seem to lack the Spirit capable of communicating the faith and spreading it in society.Belarus: formation for pre-abortion counselingCharity foundation “Open hearts” in Belarus organizes regular training seminar for volunteers who would like to provide free pre-abortion counseling. The event is due to take place on 4-5 February in Mogilev. Among invited experts there are Johannes Bücher, director of the European Regional Office of Human Life International (Austria), Svetlana Mazgunova (gynecologist) and Alena Valakhovich (family psychologist). The main goal of the pro-life and pro-family charity foundation “Open hearts” is to protect human life from conception till natural death. Foundation members regularly visit abortion clinics to pray for unborn children and their mothers and they provide counseling in regard to changing women’s decision to undergo abortion. Thanks to foundation volunteers’ activities, 75 children in Belarus have been saved so far.Ukraine: culture minister in charge of religionsThe Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine transferred the powers of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. This was established by the government’s Order 27 “On Questions of Ministry of Culture” of 18 January 2012, reports the website http://religions.unian.net. According to the document, the Cabinet decided “to accept the proposal of the Ministry of Culture regarding the possibility to fulfill the functions and powers of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and State Committee on Nationalities and Religions, which are terminated and which have been vested in the mentioned Ministry by Presidential Decree 338 ‘On Regulations on Ministry of Culture of Ukraine’ of 6 April 2011”. According to the document, the Cabinet decided “to accept the proposal of the Ministry of Culture regarding the possibility to fulfill the functions and powers of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and State Committee on Nationalities and Religions, which are terminated and which have been vested in the mentioned Ministry by Presidential Decree 338 ‘On Regulations on Ministry of Culture of Ukraine’ of 6 April 2011”.Romania: protests over rulers’ corruptionProtests against the high costs of living and corruption are ongoing in Romania. “Street slogans show that the reasons for the protests are poverty, along with leaders’ incapacities and corruption, the anger over propaganda and lies pronounced by the party in power, and injustices caused by mounting taxes”, pointed out Msgr. Joan Robu, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucarest, in an interview with the Vatican Radio. In Romania, the prelate points out, “the economic situation is in a state of transition, lacking a clear goal and without the wisdom linked to the quest for the common good. People are tired of seeing that leaders seek their own interest and not the good of the overall population. Furthermore, there has been an improvement ensuing EU edhesion, but it was perceived only by a small part of the population. Most families live in a state of poverty”. Despite this situation, “Romanian authorities are widely believed to ignore the common good – said Msgr. Robu -; but they are eager to follow their personal interests and challenge people with their egoism and their arrogance”.
