CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Bishops of The Netherlands: “Voting, rights and duties” “The greater the participation at the polls, the stronger the democratic nature of the EU”, wrote the Bishops’ Conference of The Netherlands in the “Declaration for the elections of the European Parliament”, addressing Catholics and people “of good will who have at heart the European project”. The bishops shared four “major reflections”: to vote for the EU on May 22 is a “right and a moral duty of all citizens”; the future parliamentarians “should be aware of the damage caused by the economic crisis” and pay special attention to “those who were already poor before the crisis” and to the growing numbers of “new poor”; the European project is grounded on “a noble understanding of mankind” whereby individuals, communities and nations alike can contribute to the common good; it is necessary “to learn to live on less”, ensuring adequate support to the needy. On some specific themes the bishops demand special commitments: “to work for a Europe of solidarity”; human dignity and protection of life “from the moment of conception to natural death” should be the pillars of economic and social policies; religious freedom “a fundamental part of an open and tolerant society” alongside with “quality heath treatment and education”. Spanish Catholic movements: “focusing on the EU” Caritas, Confer (Spanish Conference of the Religious), HOAC (Hermandad Obrera de Acción Católica, Labour fraternity of Catholic Action), Justicia Y Paz (Justice and Peace) and AEFI (África-Europa Fe-Justicia, Africa-Europe faith and justice) call upon the population to go to the polls on the occasion of the European elections of May 25. “On the basis of our common Christian identity and in the light of the Gospel and the Social Doctrine of the Church – they write – we call upon those who are entitled to vote to acknowledge the importance of the present moment, when our vote can contribute to the development of a Europe based on justice and solidarity towards weaker and more vulnerable persons and Countries”. “Our organizations – they added – deem it necessary to focus on a Europe committed to the progress of economic and social justice at global level, willing to create a framework of protection of economic and social rights”. Moreover, associations call for the “promotion of long-lasting policies to fight unemployment, especially among the young, geared at job creation and dignified work for all”. It is equally necessary “to promote poverty-reduction and social exclusion”. Among the various challenges, “it is urgent to ensure the respect of the human rights of migrants”, promoting their social integration. Post-traumatic syndrome: foreign experts in Ukraine. A special team of four experts in psychology trained at Caritas institutions in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic flied to Kiev a few days ago for a cycle of psychological training courses for Ukrainians. “Protests in the capital of Ukraine left visible wounds. Many people – especially the injured and the families of the victims – experienced traumas, and now they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders”, Jozef Kákos, coordinator of the humanitarian activities of Caritas Slovakia, told SIR Europe. In his opinion, psychologists, social workers, teachers and priests at “local level”, “don’t have enough experience in dealing with such situations”. That’s why Caritas Slovakia and in the Czech Republic have launched a cooperation program with the “Blue Angel” organization and its experts, focusing on so-called “crisis interventions” and on the quest for a solution to acute traumatic condition. Dedicated training courses were carried out last week in Kiev and Lviv, attended by some 60 participants who have already started to help the victims of the conflicts in Ukraine. Slovakia: pilgrimages at the national shrine Over 10 thousand pilgrims have visited the national Shrine of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Patron Saint of Slovakia, in atin, during the first days of the high season of pilgrimages that opened this month. The national Pilgrimage of priests and seminarians held last week was a highlight of the initiative. The program of pilgrimages for the rest of May is almost full. “I believe that the Year of the Holy Virgin of Seven Sorrows proclaimed by the Bishops’ Conference for the year 2014 will help everyone understand how to put faith in their daily life. It will be a concrete sign of deep Marian devotion of our nation”, said Fr Ján Cvercko, Salesian, administrator of the local parish. For further information on the event, the program and registration to pilgrimages log on: www.bazilika.sk.
