CHURCHES IN BRIEF
CCEE-CEC: meeting of the Joint CommitteeParticipants in the meeting of the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), held in Geneva from January 26-28 agree that Christian faithful in Europe must bear joint witness vis a vis new spiritual, demographic, political and economic challenges facing the continent. This year’s meeting marked the 40th anniversary of the creation in 1972 of the Joint Committee, which is the highest body for dialogue between CEC and CCEE, and takes place annually. In his opening remarks, the President of CEC, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, described the current economic crisis as one of the issues “that raise questions about the ability of Europe to bring about a sustainable policy for the European Union”. The President of CCEE, Cardinal Péter Erdo, described ecumenical commitment as a necessity that needs to involve all Christians rather than being the work of a few experts. Among the speakers figured Dr Alister McGrath, professor of theology at King’s College, London, who described the development of a secular or “atheist” position in Europe. Religion is seen as being a private matter that ought not to impact on the public domain. According to McGrath Religious institutions had been caught up in a general suspicion of institutions such as governments, banks and corporations “on account of their power, lack of transparency, vested interests, and financial recklessness”. Giancarlo Blangiardo, Professor Gian Carlo Blangiardo, lecturer in demographics at Milano-Bicocca University, focused on the demographic challenges facing churches and society: “Marriage rates had fallen almost everywhere during the past 40 years, while an increasing number of children are born outside marriage”. Against this background, he urged churches to find ways of reinforcing the family. The Rev. Cordelia Kopsch from Germany, a vice-president of CEC, said that in many places churches are facing decreasing membership and finances. Mgr Matthias Heinrich, the auxiliary Bishop of Berlin, underlined the importance of “Christian witness in the working and living environment as well as the presence of the Church in the public sphere”.Germany: anonymous delivery for mothers in difficultyFurther expanding the concept of “anonymous delivery” to help young mothers in difficulty. It is the proposal of Msgr. Anton Losinger, auxiliary bishop of Augusta, conveyed in Berline during a debate on the juridical regulation of anonymous childbirth. According to Catholic news agency KNA, Msgr. Losinger said that the possibility of anonymous childbirth is a way to provide support to the mothers. However, it should be viewed as the “last choice” in order save a life. “The possibility of assistance and counselling preserving anonymity, as in the case of anonymous childbirth, should be provided already during pregnancy”, said Msgr. Losinger. Such solutions should be developed so as to “take into account the mother’s need to protect herself from what is considered a problematic environment while enabling the child to know his origins at a later stage”. Among the possibilities of anonymous birth, along with the disclaimer of parenthood, Germany there is the so-called “Babyklappe”: structures located near hospitals, that provide the possibility to abandon the newborn in full anonymity. The mother has eight weeks to reconsider her decision, after which the child will be given for adoption. Anonymous birth is a controversial issue also in Germany, since in principle it prohibits the disclosure of the mother’s identity.Poland: Gniezno assembly on civil societyThe 9th assembly of Gniezno, scheduled to take place on March 16 to 18 in most ancient Polish capital (some 50km east of Poznan) will focus on European civil society. The assembly organized under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski, will be attended, among others, by Card. Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the laity, and Jerzy Buzek, former president of the European Parliament. The Metropolitan archbishop of Warsaw Kazimierz Nycz, will speak to the numerous representatives of Christian Europe gathered in Gniezo of the dual status as Catholic citizen, while the Chairman of the Christian Academy of the Czech Republic Tomas Halik, will ask them whether it’s still legitimate to call Christians the “salt of our continent”. Participants in the Assembly will also be able to take part in ecumenical religious celebrations officiated by prelates from Christian Churches, as the gathering is markedly ecumenical. One of the round tables on the agenda is dedicated to the figure of European citizens after Auschwitz and Kolyma, symbols of 20th century evil, while another workshop will focus on dialogue between citizens and on the geographic closeness of Euroepan population. The assembly will close with a debate on the role of the Church in civil society at the end of which the President of the German Bishops’ Conference Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, will deliver a panel speech on being Christians in Europe at a time of crisis. Info: www.zjazd.eu.
