CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ecumenism: outcomes of the Catholic-Orthodox Forum “In Christ we find our source of inspiration that renews us and brings a greater sense of responsibility in Europe and in the world today”. Thus ends the final message adopted by participants in the IV Catholic-Orthodox forum in Minsk (Belarus) on “Religion and cultural diversity: the challenges for Christian Churches in Europe” held from June 2-6. “As pastors – the document states – we intend to continue our moral contribution to our people, and as citizens we intend to present it to our governments and to European institutions”. “We believe – the message states – that Christian communities are capable of acting as witnesses of what is good for everyone, as they draw inspiration from the Gospel of Christ”. Nine chapters of the document address a set of issues discussed during the meeting, namely, religion and cultural reality in Europe today; the role of human and Christian values in contemporary multicultural societies; religious freedom and the moral reconstruction of Europe. “Our message – said Church representatives -should be seen as a sign of hope and joy”. In the ongoing “economic and cultural crisis”, the document goes on, “we are aware that many people are suffering and are seeking a word that will give meaning to their lives”. The Church “offers coherent values, incorporating humanity in Christ, the source of all authentic values”. In referring to the common Christian roots of the cultures in the continent, the value of religious freedom, “based on the transcendent dignity of every human person”, along with the importance of an ecumenical dialogue that says no to proselytism and fundamentalism, “there is no conflict between human values and the principles of the Gospel” and “faith in Christ does not exclude human diversity, rather, it promotes the elements of goodness and truth already present in cultures”, the signatories of the message declared. Forum debates were jointly coordinated by Metropolitan Gennadios of Sassima from the ecumenical Patriarchate, and by cardinal Péter Erdo, president of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). COMECE: deplores the decision on “One of us” The “one of us” initiative, that collected the signatures of over 1.7 million European citizens, has been an important exercise of participatory democracy. COMECE “deplores the decision of the European Commission not to take action on related issues”, states a release issued by the secretariat of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Commission (COMECE) commenting on the decision of the European Commission, made known on May 28, not to present legislative proposals on the citizens’ initiative One of Us. The initiative called upon the Commission to take appropriate measures to stop EU funding for research on stem cells implying the destruction of human embryos. “It is the COMECE’s belief, on the basis of ethical, juridical, scientific and economic motivations, that funding for such purposes should be inadmissible”, declared the Brussels’ office of EU bishops, adding “the communication motivating the decision by the Commission describes the current legal framework without presenting motivations”. The Commission’s decision should not discourage Christians and civil society as a whole “from continuing to promote the principles underlying this initiative and its political proposals in the future”. Spain: Catholic schools: solidarity with Syria Approximately 3 thousand students that attend Catholic religion classes in the public schools of the archdiocese of Valencia collected more than 4300 euro through charity sales. The collected sums will be used by Valencia’s delegation of the Pontifical Foundation “Aid to the Church in need” to help persecuted Christians in Syria. 50 schools support the initiative, organized by the diocesan Commission for education and Catholic teaching of the archbishopric of Valencia, in the framework of the 16th meeting of students attending religion classes. A total of seventeen charity markets were organized in the various venues from February to May. The sums have been officially handed over a few days ago to the representative of Aid to the Church in Need in Valencia, Dominik Kustra. The diocese made known that funds were collected “thanks to the commitment of the students who made food products or handicraft objects for sale in the charity markets”.
