CHURCHES IN BRIEF
COMECE: Europeinfos on nuclear disarmament and climate 2015 might be propitious “for action concerning nuclear disarmament”: it is one of the themes on which European bishops raise public attention in the latest issue of Europeinfos, monthly magazine of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), now online. With the Review Conference to assess the implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in April-May and the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings, Europe could give a clear signal at international level also by “developing a long-term vision on European politics in the area of security and defense”, that may be “plausible and centered on collective nuclear disarmament based on the confidence-boosting measures”. In this area Pax Christi and Justice and Peace have already taken up various initiatives on raising awareness on this issue, supported by COMECE. 2015 will also be the Climate Year, with the anticipated summit in Paris, and the hope of a “consistent agreement” under the banner of sustainability. According to Europeinfos the 2014 international events on climate bode well for the future. 2015 also means the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), entered into force on 1 January this year and that now binds Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. This reality, writes Dorian Winter (COMECE), on the one hand “will enable Russia to increase its hegemony”, but on the other it “nurtures hopes of growth” in poverty-stricken Eurasian countries. Sweden: from the Churches an appeal against religious hatred “We, representatives of different religions and denominations in Sweden, distance ourselves from the aggressiveness, hatred and violence related to religion. Instead, we want to reiterate that religions are an opportunity to contribute to community building and democratic development in Sweden and in the world”, reads a document signed by the representatives of all religions in Sweden, published on the website of the World Council of Churches, in response to three other arson attacks and acts of vandalism against several mosques in Sweden occurred between Christmas Eve and 1 January, adding on to a long list of anti-religious attacks registered in the country during 2014. “The believers of religious communities in the Country support everyone’s right to practice their faith. We also invite political representatives, government agencies, civil society organizations and those who have at heart justice and peace, to resist and reject hatred”, reads the text, which encourages “demonstrations of solidarity”. The statement will be read in all the places of worship on the weekend of January 30 to February 1 and will be presented February 4 to Culture Minister Alice Bah. England and Wales: pastoral document on the family The story of Abraham and Sarah, the Annunciation recounted in the Gospel of Luke, the Wedding at Cana, the meeting of the disciples on the way to Emmaus: these are some of the exemplary events that serve as guidelines in the pastoral document titled “The Call, the Journey and the mission”, proposed by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales for the Feast of the Holy Family celebrated last December 28 to help the faithful understand the teachings of the Church on these themes, and in preparation for the general Assembly of the Synod of bishops of 2015 on Marriage and Family. The initiative stems from the exhortation of 18 October by Pope Francis to develop the proposals and ideas generated by the recent Extraordinary Synod and to find practical solutions to the many problems and challenges that families face today, with “true spiritual discernment”. The English and Welsh bishops therefore invite the faithful “to pray that the Holy Spirit may help the Church in this process of discernment, but also to reflect individually and in groups on these challenges and on how to strengthen the family today”. Spain: Cartagena, a text-message of solidarity for the Crib-Home The Cradle House “The Annunciation”, the foundation of the property of the Spanish diocese of Cartagena, entrusted to the care of the Sisters of the Annunciation, has launched an aid-collection campaign through a text message of solidarity. By sending a message with the phrase Cradle House to the number 28014 1.20 euro will be donated to the foundation, which for almost four years has been taking care of mothers with young children, those in situations of social exclusion, pregnant women at risk of abortion and women suffering from the post-abortion syndrome, raising awareness on defense of life and the dignity of women, taking care of the family circle of women with young children or pregnant women to facilitate their integration into society. The Cradle House also runs a childcare centre, attending to children of women hosted by the centre and children with difficulties.
