CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Switzerland: churches and Sunday Alliance Past April 3rd, according to KIPA news agency, the Swiss chapter of Sunday Alliance submitted to the Federal Helvetic Chancellery 67 thousand signatures needed to ensure that the parliament’s proposal to keep stores open 24 hours will be decided with a national referendum. The “Sunday Alliance” movement, active on a European scale with its national chapters, comprises unions, workers’ associations, political parties and ecclesial organizations determined to defend their right to rest and to a social, family, religious life, currently threatened by the opening of commercial activities on festive days. In the signature collection process, also the Labour Community of Swiss Christian Churches (CTEC) decided by large majority of its members to endorse the mobilization and the “Alliance”, on April 15, officially accepted its adhesion. CTEC, chaired by pastor Rita Famos-Pfander (Federation of Protestant churches – FEPS), whose Vice-President is Charles Morerod, bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Freiburg, is an ecumenical platform active at national level, established in 1971, which brings together 11 churches from various Christian denominations. In the statement of membership, CTEC president said that the ratification of the Charta Oecumenica binds the Churches to assume their responsibilities in the social realm for the defence of fundamental values. With the Sunday Alliance adhesion the Churches are putting into practice the commitments stipulated with that ratification. According to Kipa, also the Swiss “Justitia et pax” Commission, on the mandate of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, has become a member of “Sunday Alliance”.Germany: Hans Küng leaves WeltethosHans Küng, the Swiss theologian living in Tubinga, passed his chair at the Weltethos Foundation to Eberhard Stilz during in a gala evening for his 85th birthday, held April 22nd at Tubinga University. In his thank you speech, Kipa news agency, reported Hans Küng retraced his carrier as a student, then young professor, expert at the Council, until 1979, when he was withdrawn his licence to teach Catholic theology, after which he devoted in-depth studies to the relationship between Christian Churches and other world religions. In 1993 he worked at the establishment of the Weltethos and then for the establishment of the Weltethos Institution at Tubinga University. Küng said that “no serious dialogue of religions is possible without serious ethical values, norms and shared behaviours”. On this is based the idea of a global ethics. The first ethical principle is: “all human beings should be treated humanely”, according to the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and the golden rule of “don’t do to unto others what you don’t want others do unto you”. According to the Swiss theologian “since kindergarten it is necessary to educate to dialogue with religions and cultures so that people may mature the ability to engage in dialogue, preventing prejudice and stereotyping”. For this reason families should be helped and should be given the tools and the sites apt for the transmission of values. Luxembourg: a 350-year old devotion The Catholic Church of Luxembourg since April 20 is committed for the traditional octave of the Mother of God, which this year is titled “Faith, hope and charity”. It’s a tradition that dates back to February 20 1678, when the General States elected Mary the Consoler of the Afflicted patron of the dukedom, and the population of Luxembourg went in pilgrimage at the cathedral, to gather in prayer before the Statue of the Holy Virgin, erected in 1624. A yearly pilgrimage is held since then, which lasts 15 days, from the 4th to the 6th week after Easter. Celebrations, liturgies, and devotional prayers take place during the pilgrimage. Groups of pilgrims gather in prayer in the Cathedral. Past Sunday it was the turn of the young and the sick, children, ecclesial associations, and movements will join them. All celebrations are broadcast via streaming on the website of the archdiocese (www.cathol.lu). The preacher chosen by tradition by the archbishop this year is Georges Hellinghausen, priest of the archdiocese, delegate for the media, culture and international relations. “In the year of faith we want to share the deepening of our faith. Hope traces the path of our future. It is a challenge that as a Church we are called to face with courage. Only through the witness of love will we be credible Christians”, said Monsignor Hellinghausen. The event is enriched by a filmfest (“Faces of Africa”), a book fair on adults’ formation, book presentations for the young, ecumenical events, initiatives for conjugal and pastoral care. The octave will end on May 5th with a procession and a solemn celebration chaired by Monsignor Jean-Claude Hollerich, archbishop of Luxembourg.
