CHURCHES IN BRIEF
England: Caritas on domestic abuse lawThe Caritas Social Action Network, the organisation facing social problems on behalf of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales welcome the latest changes introduced by the government in the laws for legal assistance to the victims of home abuse. In its original version, the laws would have prevented many people subject to home abuse from accessing essential legal aid to obtain injunctions against violent partners, or to be granted custody of their children. The government change of direction on the legal assistance for the victims of home abuse was obtained thanks to the pressure campaign by a number of groups such as "Caritas Social Action Network", which organised the sending to Ken Clarke of a public letter signed by the leaders of ten important religious groups including Archbishop of Southwark Peter Smith, the Anglican bishop of Leicester Timothy Stevens, Reverend Patricia Took (President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain), and Reverend Leo Osborn, President of the Methodist Conference. In the letter, the religious leaders denounced the changes proposed by the government, which in their opinion would have destroyed the progress made on the difficult problem of home abuse in the last few years.Czech Republic: bishops’ plenary from 23 to 25 aprilThe situation regarding property composition between Churches and state and preparations for the Jubilee Year of SS. Cyril and Methodius will be among the topics to be discussed at the forthcoming plenary session of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. Prelates will meet on 23-25 April in Spindleruv Mlyn to talk about current issues in the life of the Catholic Church. Their attention will focus on activities of Caritas Czech Republic and Catholic biblical work, as well as nominations for the Order of SS. Cyril and Methodius, an award conferred by the Bishops’ Conference. Its president, cardinal Dominik Duka, will offer insight into the situation of the Church in society and vice-president, Mons. Jan Graubner, will introduce the state of preparations for the celebration of the 1150th anniversary of SS. Cyril and Methodius’s arrival to the region of Great Moravia. Among other topics discussed will be commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Pontifical Mission Societies and next year’s pilgrimage of the relics of St. John Bosco in the dioceses of the Czech Republic.Romania: disagreement about return of seized property"Giving back the assets illegally confiscated by the Communist regime is an act of justice, not a privilege or a concession of the Romanian State. Once again the measures announced by the Government prove that the current administration of the Romanian State does not wish to find a proper and fair solution to the problem of the illegal nationalisation occurred during the Communist regime, a problem not really faced for over two decades". Those words were spoken by Ioan Robu, metropolitan archbishop of Bucharest and president of the Latin Section of the Roman Bishops’ Conference, in relation to the initiative of the Romanian Government to modify the legislation regulating the giving back of the assets illegally confiscated by the Communist regime. The Roman Catholic bishops of Romania "express their disagreement for the legislative measures publicly announced by Bogdan Drãgoi, Minister of Public Finance". According to Archbishop Robu, "Excluding the giving back in kind of the nationalised assets from the law is another nationalisation, and a continuation of the practice of the Communist regime, trampling on the right of property again".Slovakia: construction of Catholic University libraryApproximately 1.3 million euro have been invested in the first phase of construction of the new University library of the Catholic University in Ruzomberok, representing 15% of total planned expenses. The project had been in discussion from the year 2000, while the concrete plan was introduced in April 2008. "The idea has come out mainly from the need to provide our students and teachers with a modern library, thus responding to their requirements", explained rector Tadeusz Zasepa, adding that "perspective development of the university and its faculties is not possible without a high-class library". Archbishop Ján Babjak, member of the Board of administration, expressed conviction that financial investment that might seem too generous today, will return in future in form of rising quality of education, becoming a contribution "not only to the academic field but also to the whole Slovakia and the Church". The four floors of the new library will provide space for more than 310,000 books, university archive, lecture halls and galleries. The construction is financed from the EU structural funds, donations and resources of the Catholic University. The opening ceremony is planned for 12 December this year.
