CHURCHES IN BRIEF " "" "
Portugal: Pope welcomes apostolic visitation for 100th Fatima In a private audience with the new ambassador to the Holy See António Almeida Ribeiro for the presentation of his credential letters, Pope Francis said he is “welcomes the possibility” of a visitation to Portugal, on the occasion of the centenary of the Fatima apparitions in 2017. In a statement released by Ecclesia news agency, following the private audience, the Ambassador said: “the Pope spoke of Portugal with very warm words, underlining the significance of the Marian shrine”. “We are organizing the celebrations marking the centenary of the apparitions, and the Papal visitation would constitute the corollary of the event”. The Lusitanian ambassador added: “in the name of my country, in particular, I convey my utmost respect and feelings of gratitude to Pope Francis upon his decision to consecrate his pontificate to the Virgin of Fatima”. The consecration, requested to the Pope by the cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon Msgr. José Policarpo, upon a decision of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, (CEP), will take place during the celebrations of the international pilgrimage scheduled for next May 12-13, presided over by the archbishop of Rio de Janeiro Msgr. Orani João Tempesta. To this regard the archbishop recently said: “devotion to the Virgin of Fatima is among the most beautiful and precious heritages passed down by the Portuguese to the Brazilian people”. “As pilgrim of Fatima”, the archbishop added, “I will devote to the Holy Virgin also the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro (July 23-18)”.Russia: a law to protect religious belief The representatives of Moscow’s Patriarchate welcomed the law stipulating the protection of citizens’ freedom of religion, approved in first instance by the Duma of State of the Russian Federation. The president of the Department for public relations of the Patriarchate, Vsevolod Chaplin, said he hopes that the draft law will be definitively adopted by the Duma, and underlined the need to protect religious symbols, in a framework whereby the “sacred” concept is gradually disappearing. The law envisages the adoption of a new article in the penal code against those acts that “insult religious belief and profession of faith, and constitute a profanation of places and objects of worship”, reported Russian news agency Itar-Tass. Penalties include fines up to 500 thousand rubles, 400 hours of forced labour or 5 years imprisonment in case of desecration or violence to individuals exercising religious ministry. The first Vice-President of the Commission for Public and Religious bodies Mikhail Markelov told the agency: “the faithful of traditional religious traditions are victims of threats, as occurred with regard to renowned ‘Pussy Riot’ band. There have been acts of vandalism in religious cemeteries, and threats to the lives of spiritual leaders”, as in the recent case of an Orthodox priest seriously wounded at the head while going to church”. For Markelov, Russia intends to comply with international legal measures: “similar legislation has already been adopted in many European countries”.Austria: Christians, Jews and Muslims on donating Sharing is a moral and religious obligation that is related to justice. It is the conclusion of the participants in a forum attended by dignitaries of the Catholic and Evangelical Churches, and by Jewish and Muslim leaders. The meeting was held on April 17 in Vienna on the occasion of the Spendentag, a day dedicated to offering and fund-collection, promoted by the Fundraising Verband Austria association. “Sharing and giving is a moral obligation rooted in the Bible. Those who don’t comply with it are lacking love for their neighbor and are exposed to sin”, said Heinz Hödl, member of the coordinating office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference. Michael Chalupka, director the evangelical Diakonie, pointed out that the Protestant tradition of charity draws origin from the opposition to donations made with the purpose of indulgence. “For this reason the Protestant tradition has a twofold relationship with charity: the act of donating is valued, while false donations are strongly criticized”. Judaism and Islam envisage a religious duty towards sharing. “Each Muslim believer has the duty to donate 2.5% of his wealth to those in need”, said Carla Amina Baghajati, coordinator for Muslim women within the Islamic community in Austria. For Judaism 10 to 20% of monthly earnings should be given to the poor, said Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister from Vienna’s Jewish community. From a theological angle, both for Islam and for Judaism these aren’t considered donations but a moral duty to pay money. This obligation stems from the principle of social justice regarding man’s dependence from God, the purveyor of various riches. Both religions envisage donation in the true sense of the term, which believers are free to make as they wish.
