CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Portugal: extending our glance beyond the crisisIn an interview broadcast on Sunday October 7 by the Portuguese television (RTP2) during the program "70×7", Msgr. José Policarpo invited participants to undertake a profound reflection on the economic system. He said: "the destiny of Portugal and of all Europe can be planned and developed looking beyond the ongoing crisis". "If we work in solidarity, we will solve the major problems afflicting our brethren; not the main economic issues but their concrete, daily needs", added the Cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon: "Demonstrations and strikes are understandable, but they don’t solve anything and they risk destroying the national community built across difficult epochs". The CEP president invited "all Portuguese citizens to become the protagonists in the solution to the crisis, through a solidarity capable of giving a new face to human coexistence: what’s at stake and is most important is the understanding of other people, for which a new culture is needed". Criticizing the naïve optimism of a system whereby the financial world becomes a source of profit, detached from economic production, the bishop of Lisbon underlined "the excess of economic and financial concern shown by Community institutions" and criticized those lifestyles that have led individuals to undertake useless expenses, and led administrations to create enormous public indebtedness. "Before the hecatomb caused by this situation, as a Church we are obliged not to react with mere speeches – concluded Msgr. Policarpo – but especially with renewed action and greater attention to the true needs of individuals".Germany: the topical relevance of Saint Hildegard of BingenTo preserve the theological heritage of Saint Hildegard of Bingen: it is the appeal of Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, president of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), launched in Rome on October 7th on the occasion of the proclamation of the Saint as "Doctor of the Church" by Benedict XVI. "We look with surprise at the new heritage passed down to us by this woman from the Middle Ages who directed a convent and left a great amount of writings, scientific publications and most of all a guideline for life based on faith. The topical relevance of Hildegard of Birgen is also linked to the fact that her mystical spirituality and her theology bear a special importance in the present times", continued the Archbishop. "As the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council draws close, the major theological heritage of Hildegard of Bilsen must be recovered, bringing her to the present times and to the Year of the Faith called by Benedict XVI> The Council as a task and an obligation to bring faith in the world and the mystical theology of Hildegard help us not to separate God from the rest of the world. We are living in this world to offer as a Church the good news of God to our contemporaries – concluded Msgr. Zollitsch -, thus carrying our the task entrusted to us by our Lord. We must proclaim and bring to the present times also the message of Hildegard of Bingen". Ukraine: anniversary Caritas of Khmelnytskyi"Despite the difficult political, economic and social situation in Ukraine, the perspectives and prospect of the Caritas in Khmelnytskyi are visible", said Fr. Ivan Dankevych, director of the institution, at the occasion of the 10th anniversary of its foundation. Its activities include help to families with many children, low-income families, people with addiction problems, children living on the streets, victims of human trafficking. Significant attention is paid to providing social, legal and psychological support to vulnerable social groups, humanitarian assistance to persons in need and elderly people. Among the partners of the local Caritas there are governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, private and corporate philanthropists, and international structures. "Our cooperation dates back to 2004. Since then, around 500 motivational training seminars have been conducted for various categories and social groups of about 8,000 people of the Khmelnytskyi region in Ukraine", continues the director, praising the institutions’ and individuals’ willingness to help and cooperate.
