Reading Europe’s future ” “through the prism of the Social Doctrine ” “

The fundamental aim of the Second Catholic Social Days for Europe being held in Madrid from 18 to 21 September is to reflect on the future of Europe, as the title of the meeting suggests, with the eyes of our Christian faith. Through the prism of Catholic social teaching, Christians seek a deeper understanding of the socio-economic crisis which continues to mark our continent and considering together, as a Church family, the path toward a society shaped by authentic values. The continent of Europe is living through a difficult time at so many levels. The current crisis challenges individual citizens, our families, governments and – where the European Union is concerned – the EU institutions. We are concerned that the plight of many in our society is overlooked, especially the most vulnerable and those who find themselves on the margins, who are enduring great suffering: the poor and the sick, the unemployed, the refugee and the migrant, those who are living crisis in their families, and those who are living alone without hope and desperate to find some meaning in life. The collateral damage of the banking collapse and ensuing economic turn-down has deeply wounded our social fabric. It has raised profound questions about the way we live together. The economic crisis has resulted in widespread redundancies, small and middle-sized enterprises going out of business, unacceptably high levels of youth unemployment and, in the case of some countries, severe austerity measures. These same measures which followed intervention by the IMF have exposed enormous numbers of individuals and families to extreme hardship. Within the EU family they have raised major issues about the foundational values of the Union, one of which is solidarity, a key stone of Catholic social teaching. The Church cares about society. She cherishes every man and woman equally. She cherishes the family as the fundamental building block of a stable society. She also cares deeply about the complex arrangements we have made so as to live together in peace and promote the common good. Secure in her faith that Jesus is present at the heart of our world, she offers the message of hope, even when times are grim and our problems seem insurmountable. The discussions and reflection in Madrid during the Social Days are animated by that same hope. At Madrid we aim to take stock of the current social and political situation in Europe. The participants in the Social Days from across the continent will have many opportunities to dialogue among themselves analyse their lived experience, reflect on the big questions of our day and, with the Gospel as our light and the Church’s social teaching as our vade mecum, take some steps toward facing the challenges of our age. (*) COMECE general secretary (*) CCEE general secretary