Portugal, Germany, Slovakia

Portugal: the closing of the Social WeeksConceiving the Welfare State not on the basis of economic urgencies but in a way so as to meet the needs of social and economic cohesion, justice, and human dignity. This is theme of the final statement of the Social Weeks that closed a few days ago in Oporto on "Estado social e sociedade solidária". "The Church must recover signs and initiatives that trigger hope and at same time counter the crisis, in order to step up the sharing of resources, fair fiscal justice, alongside with a rigorous evaluation of public services". The social doctrine of the Church, continues the document, "has brought attention to the need to find solutions prompted through an effective coordination of the State with solidarity initiatives". Welfare State reform "must therefore be aimed at the wellbeing of all citizens, at the balance between free initiative and the equal consideration of all stakeholders, at the acknowledgement of the universal sharing of the global production, the dignity of labor and the promotion of employment, for a fair intergeneration distribution among social actors, at the complementary nature of equality and diversity, at subsidiarity and inclusiveness". The authors of the statement underlined "the urgent need to interrupt a vicious cycle whereby poverty is viewed as inevitable", whilst "ensuring solidarity between individuals and across generations". During the Week were presented various initiatives based on proximity, creativity, and social innovation networks, highlighting family and community responsibilities, in the light of the challenges of ageing and solitude. It’s important, continues the declaration, "to promote new lifestyles equally based on sobriety and development". It is necessary to "finally take into account the principles of public ethics that grant a primary role to human dignity, in the political, social and economic realms" and to "encourage the value of saving and labour", as opposed to indebtedness and for "the defense of equality". Germany: Catholic media award in BonnThe life of refugees and migrants is the main theme of the works awarded during the tenth Catholic Media Prize in Bonn on November 26 by the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK). The president of the DBK editorial Commission Gebhard Fürst, chairman of the jury of the prize, underlined before an audience of 300 personalities belonging to the ecclesiastic, political and journalistic realms, the responsibility of media workers in the dissemination of truthful and balanced information. "This year the jury decided to award media reports and audiovisuals that are distant from mainstream media, which focus on dramatic stories of migration and flight", said Msgr. Fürst, referring to the documentary "Wadim" by Carsten Rau and Hauke Wendler, awarded in the "electronic media" section, along with the reportage "Endstation Dadaab" ("Last stop Dadaab") by Wolfgang Bauer, under the "printed press" category. "Deportation and migration caused by poverty are part of our world, which contain a challenge and an appeal to humaneness", the bishop said. He added: "media reports should not picture migration from a unilateral perspective, i.e. as a problem tout court. Complicated situations should equally be portrayed to ensure an equal perception of reality", he remarked. "Media reports have a positive impact when their use of language and images are conveyed with a responsible approach, in full respect of the human person. They are more than appreciated when, far from being acritical, they provide exemplary situations of successful coexistence of diversity", Fürst said. During the meeting, the bishop referred to the Second Vatican Council, notably to the Pastoral Constitution "Gaudium et Spes". He underlined that the prize-winners "have communicated situations of emergency and also of hope in such an authentic way so as to touch people’s hearts. Together", he said, "a lot can be done to provide new thrust and do good unto others". Slovakia: meeting of bishops of the Eastern riteNext year’s annual meeting of the bishops of the Eastern rite will take place on 17-20 October in Slovakia. "I have invited the whole community to Kosice because the city will become the European capital of culture in 2013 and along with that, we will be celebrating the Year of Ss. Cyril and Methodius who came to the region of Great Moravia 1150 years ago", said Mons. Milan Chautur, eparch of Kosice, explaining the reason for his invitation. "During the communism era, the Greek Catholic prelates did not have any chance to meet, because the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia and Ukraine, and partly also in Poland and Hungary, was practically liquidated", said Mons. Chautur for SIR Europe, expressing joy over the fact that now the meetings of the bishops of the Eastern rite are held regularly on a yearly basis and focus on the various liturgical and pastoral aspects of their service. The theme of next year’s encounter is yet to be confirmed, but according to the eparch of Kosice, it will probably deal with situation regarding marriage and families of Greek Catholic clergy. Mons. Chautur will co-host the meeting together with metropolitan archbishop of Presov, Mons. Ján Babjak, and eparch of Bratislava, Mons. Peter Rusnák.