Following the pace of the Gospel

What does the Church intend to do? What to Catholics in Europe want? These questions are at the centre of the interviews of SIR Europe with the bishops delegated to the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) by national bishops’ conferences (download the Special in .pdf: click here). Each bishop has been asked to summarise his personal opinions, concerns and hopes vis a vis the European Union. A real and true journey from Cyprus to Latvia, from Bulgaria to Portugal, from which emerged the depiction of multifarious situations and sensitivities, a token of the variety of peoples living in the European continent. The editor-in-chief of SIR Europe Paolo Bustaffa, said: "Europe needs words and faces of the Gospel to overcome a tiredness that risks delaying the continent’s appointments with history. This would imply not only the dissolution of a dream, crashed against the hurdles of scepticism and egoism. For European Catholics it would mean failing to address a historical responsibility towards the world, disappointing the expectations of the youth and of the poor".The richness of diversity. "COMECE – underlined COMECE general Secretary Piotr Mazurkiewicz in the foreword – has been following the European integration process for the past thirty years. This time exemplifies its experiences regarding integration. But the Church has been thriving in Europe for over two-thousand years, which is the true yardstick of her presence and witness". Msgr. Mazurkiewicz noted that the interviews highlight a large variety of perspectives and viewpoints. In Europe there are countries where the Catholic Church represents the majority and others in which it represents the minority. Countries where, after the fall of Communism, the Catholic Church has been revitalized by a new dynamism, and profiles of Churches used to living in democratic regimes. "In my opinion – remarked COMECE secretary general – it’s very important to view this diversity of experiences as the specific richness of the only Church in Europe, a richness that remains the same in Member States’ Churches. This Church, with her unity in diversity, is now a partner in the dialogue with the EU. Article 17 of the Treaty acknowledges the unique role played by the Church in European history, notably, in the European integration process".The specific contribution of the Church. What is the "specific contribution of Christian faith in the construction of third millennium Europe?" "The greatest, specific contribution, that is also the most critical contribution of contemporary culture and society – replied Msgr. Adrian H. Van Luyn, COMECE president -, consists in revealing the fundamental values of human life in the light of the alliance of love established by Jesus Christ with mankind. Without these foundations in God the principles of "human dignity" loose there sacred force, as the events occurred during the totalitarian regimes of Nazism and communism in the past century are a tragic example of, and as unfortunately constantly happens also in this new century, marked by massive human rights violations in the poor continents. That’s why the best service that Christians can offer to their contemporaries consists in proposing a world and an ethics with God". "In order to bring this specific contribution – continues Msgr. Van Luyn -, the Church is not only actively present in public debate at European level, she also promotes- within that debate – a sincere dialogue with everyone". The force of Christianity. "The history and the contemporariness of Europe would be unconceivable without the determining contribution of Christianity", remarked Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich. "We wish to introduce the perspective of Church Social Doctrine within political debate, as confirmed by the ongoing dialogue and meetings with EU representatives. The themes we address in this framework range from the protection of work-free Sunday to the support to those populations in the countries bordering on the Southern Mediterranean basin yearn, so as to help them build liberal societies. But there is still a long way to go. We cannot decrease the level of our commitment for Europe". According to Msgr. Piotr Jarecki, auxiliary bishop of Warsaw, COMECE vice-president, "the work that the Church has carried out vis a vis the EU is important and useful especially given the ongoing difficult economic crisis. The Catholic Church believes that the ongoing crisis stems from a moral and spiritual crisis. Moral relativism modifies the understanding of personal, social and community responsibility. Not only does the Church help those who are most in need, she also defends their dignity and the common good from individualistic deviations. The Church calls for a European Community of Solidarity and Responsibility".