CURCHES IN BRIEF
CCEE: focus on the Roma in Athens with CEC “A time for dialogue, to discuss activities for the Roma promoted by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Churches in Europe at political and pastoral level”. This was the purpose of the meeting held in Athens May 5-7, organized by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), under the patronage of the Greek government, current EU-president-in-office. “At the root of the meeting is the realisation of the situation of neglect in which the Romany minority in Europe is living”, promoters explained. “This joint concern of the continent’s churches and nations demands joint and urgent responses”. In many Countries of origin, the Roma communities “are in fact living more and more at the margins of society. On the part of the European nations that presents a great difficulty in the integration of this ethnic and cultural minority”. Speeches and sharing of personal experiences focused on the pastoral activity of the Church for the Roma peoples and on the political commitment of members of the Roma communities. England and Wales: the bishops’ plenary meeting Cooperation between the Church and law-enforcement authorities against human trafficking worldwide; the difficulties regarding the opening of new Catholic schools in England and Wales; the law on assisted suicide; the Synod on the family in October. These, along with the European elections in May, were the themes addressed during the plenary of the bishops of England and Wales gathered in Leeds from Monday 5 to Thursday May 8. “The bishops’ conference will discuss the meeting of the Santa Marta Group, a group of law enforcement chiefs and other authorities to fight human trafficking, scheduled to take place in London the coming November”, said Alexander Des Forges, spokesperson of English and Welsh bishops. “The group aims at promoting cooperation between the police and the Catholic Church to combat the second most serious international crime”. The bishops equally reaffirmed their opposition to the law for the legalization of assisted suicide, rejected also by doctors’ associations, for the disabled and by all those working in the area of palliative treatment. Father Patrick Daly, general secretary of the organization representing the bishops’ conferences of EU Countries, with head offices in Brussels, also joined the meeting in London to speak about the work of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community). “It is to be expected that the bishops will encourage citizens to participate in the end of May elections”, Des Forges concluded. Spain: towards labour with “Support classroom” Urgell Caritas launched the “Support classroom” project. The initiative is set to offer young people vocational training for integration in the labour market. It’s a pioneering experience involving eight young men and women aged 17-28. The purpose is to develop the social skills of the youths and step up personal talents, with ongoing training on a daily basis, thereby promoting integration into the job market. All participants come from the region of Alt Urgell, marked by a dire need to provide support to young people. The purpose in the short term is for the youths to take traineeships in professional activities related to Caritas before acquiring a specific skill with which they will enter the labour market. In addition to improving the social skills of young people, the aim of the initiative is to raise their levels of reading and writing, math skills, within the framework of the informed use of money. Courses provide knowledge of computer science focusing on new technologies. The project seeks to improve also the knowledge of the local environment, with focus on social sciences and environment studies. Finally, the “support classroom” project features a set of open-air activities. Recreation and leisure activities promote the youths’ teamwork capacities.
