CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Spain: MEPs from 16 Countries promote the right to life Over the past few days MEPs from 16 European and American Countries gathered in Madrid on the occasion of the International Conference on the Right to Life. In a joint statement released at the end of the meeting, MEPs declared: “the defence of human life from the moment of conception must be a priority goal in measures taken by political leaders and legislators worldwide. Dignity is part and parcel of the human person, it belongs to human species and therefore the whole of life is precious and must be protected, especially the life of the newborn, the disabled and sick people”. Moreover: “The defense of human life is a fundamental right, the most important of all rights. It must not be repressed because it conflicts with other supposed rights”. For this reason, “the rule of the law must recognize and legally protect the value of human life, stipulated within legislation that ensures that protection”. MEPs welcomed the “initiative of the Spanish government that presented the organic draft Bill for the protection of the life of the conceived person and the right of pregnant women”. “We pledge our commitment for the promotion of parliamentary networks in support of legislative and social initiatives, in support of the right to life and maternity – continues the final statement -. In fact, we believe that nothing is more progressive than the defence of life, of the weak and innocent in particular”. MEP Lourdes Méndez, spokesperson of the meeting, underlined that “promoting abortion leads to social failure” and it is a “a form of violence against women”. Poland: meeting for youths and families in Czestochowa “Spend a week’s holiday in Czestochowa with young people from all over Europe to live joy, faith and passion”: it’s the joint invitation of the organizers of the International Youth Forum, the Emmanuel Community, and the Youth Pastoral Care Office in the archdiocese of Czestochowa. The meeting opened July 15, it will be ongoing until July 20 in preparation for the WYD 2016. Among the promoters figure inter alia, Martine Laffitte-Catta, a founder of the Emmanuel Community, Monsignor Robert J. Sarno, member of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, and Fr Leo Maasburg, director of the Pontifical Missionary Works in Austria, accompanier and confessor of Mother Theresa of Calcutta. The motto of the Forum, titled “Compassion lives”, is drawn from Matthew’s Gospel (5,3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. It is addressed to young people aged 16-30. In the same week, alongside with the Forum for young people, will take place a meeting with families in Czestochowa, which continues the decade-long tradition of the “Holidays with God”, spiritual exercises organized by the Emmanuel Community. The program envisages a varied schedule for families: parents take part in spiritual exercises while children attend leisure activities. In the afternoon participants convene to spend the rest of the day together. Information regarding the two initiatives is available on the website: www.forum.emmanuel.info.pl. “Eco-justice”: COMECE invitation to European youths What can young people do for “sustainability” and “eco-justice”? It is the question that has led the Secretariat of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), in cooperation with a set of ecumenical and youth bodies, to organize an evening debate next September 9 in Brussels. Over the past months the EU and its Member States have been reflecting on the priorities of the post-2015 agenda, that will draw a balance on Eight Millennium Development Goals, due to kick off new commitments for global development. COMECE will take part in the reflections on the assumption that “the EU is a major player in the global climate negotiations. However, in Europe we have been witnessing great divides among the various components of eco-justice: there is pollution, extreme poverty, injustice and isolation. Sustainability is not yet accessible for many Europeans”. The question will be addressed in the COMECE seminar that will analyse the contribution of young people. Two projects will be presented (the “conference of young people on climate” of the German Evangelical Church along with “Social and Youth Tourism” of Salesians in Italy), debated by representatives of institutions and European youth bodies. Registrations are open on the website www.comece.eu.
