CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Portugal: dialogue between social partners Illustrating the conclusions of the Permanent Council, convened on January 8 in Fatima, the spokesman for the Portuguese Bishops Conference (CEP) said that "given the serious difficulties in creating consensus, the current economic and social crisis in the country requires urgent strengthening of dialogue between social partners". Bishop Manuel Morujão added that the bishops have decided to dedicate the forthcoming pastoral Days, scheduled from June 17 to 20, to the theme: "The organization of society in the light Social Doctrine of the Church". "We must all feel involved in the priorities for the common good", said the Jesuit priest, in the hope that "policymakers listen to the voices of the Portuguese people, and everyone may obtain the dignity they deserve". According to the CEP spokesman, 2013, presented in perspective as an annus horribilis, must be transformed into a "year of real solidarity, following the logic and the ability to support those charitable institutions, whose fundamental actions have prevented social wreckage". With regard to the "directives" on the treatment of any suspected case of sexual abuse of minors occurred inside the Church, disclosed in April, Msgr. Morujão clarified that "the bishops have no knowledge of any such incident", but they are available to consider all reports, which can help the Church carry out her self-purification. "The Church relentlessly grants her support to all, in the first place to the victims of such abuses, in the wish that the social scourge of pedophilia will disappear completely", said the CEP Secretary.France: three years since the Haiti earthquake On behalf the Church of France, Bishop Marc Stenger and Fr Luc Lalire have travelled to Haiti at three years from the devastating earthquake of 2010. "The population is in a state of suffering", wrote Msgr. Stenger and father Lalire. "We have seen people who will forever bear the scars of the trauma caused by the earthquake: physically, psychologically and materially". The final statement also recalls the damage caused by the recent hurricane Sandy that further impacted the Haitian economy, agricultural production in particular. The small delegation of French bishops met with high school students, with seminarians and with the French missionaries on the island. They took part in meetings and celebrations. "At the end of our visit we want to say to the Church of France, as well as to the volunteers: we must not forget Haiti. We must remain united in supporting the efforts undertaken at a time when it there is a strong temptation to give up".Austria: Forum on the future of the ChurchAustrian bishops and the Austrian Catholic Action (KAÖ) have scheduled a "Forum on the future of the Church in Austria" for 2014. It was made known by the Austrian Catholic press agency Kathpress yesterday, disclosing the joint press release of the Bishops’ Conference and KAÖ, saying the Forum intends "to give a sign for a new beginning in the Church", and to "show and revive the redeeming and liberating power of Christianity for the present". Main subjects to face: commitment for "human dignity", relationships, the family, marriage and participation of Christian laymen in the Church. The announcement of the Forum was made in Salzburg at the end of a first official meeting between representatives of the Bishops’ Conference and the new presidency of KAÖ. Other important aspects to be tackled will be the "new evangelisation" and religion, which "is not a private thing", according to the Austrian Church. For the organisers, the Forum on the future of the Church is "a first common step to win challenges in the Church and in the world". The details of the event will be debated during the next plenary assemblies of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference and in a day of studies scheduled in June by the Bishops’ Conference and KAÖ.
