Catholics without a Church?

Msgr. Markus Büchel is the new president of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference for the period 2013/2015. He was appointed during the 297th CES ordinary Assembly, held in BEX (Canton Vaud, September 3-5). Msgr. Büchel, 63, bishop of the diocese of St. Gallen since 2006, currently CES vice-president, will succeed Msgr. Norbert Brunner, whose mandate expires on December 31 2012. Figures on sexual abuse. During the Assembly were presented the 2011 figures on "Sexual abuse in the framework of pastoral life". The data collected by dioceses, covering the period 1950-to date, shows that 22 abuse reports have been filed, two of which involve minors. However, new cases of abuse refer to previous years, whose perpetrators have died or no longer hold priestly offices. The Commission of experts that collected the data underlines that the "sensitivity" regarding all cases of abuse in pastoral life "has increased". "Now – the bishops say – it’s a question of making pastoral workers aware of prevention, as well as of initial and ongoing formation". Ecclesiastic denominations and ethnic minorities. The meeting in Bex also provided the opportunity of discussing the theme of "partial leave from the Church", a question raised in July following a decision by the Federal Court of Lucern which criticized the fact that the discussion of a parishioner with the general vicar of the diocese of Bâle led to the implementation of a "partial leave from the Church". With these words the Federal Court refers to the case of someone leaving an ecclesiastic denomination "but wanting to continue being a member of the community of Roman Catholic faithful". In the light of the July ruling, the diocese of Bâle is re-examining its directives regarding people who wish to leave the Church or ecclesiastic denominations. Already in 2009 CES had adopted recommendations on the "most appropriate conduct for those who leave ecclesiastic denominations and express their intention to remain inside the Catholic Church". Belonging to a parish was thus confirmed as an essential feature. These recommendations, CES declared, "have been adopted as guidelines in the interested dioceses, with the consent of ecclesiastic denominations". Another topical issue regards the Jenisch gypsy population of Switzerland, legally recognized as a national minority group. CES members conveyed their "concern" before episodes of intolerance and xenophobia among the various gypsy minority groups in the Country. Meetings. The Swiss bishops will meet Msgr. Felix Gmür who will represent them at the next ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, scheduled to take place in Rome October 7 through 28. With him the Assembly discussed the theme of "The new Evangelization for the Transmission of Christian faith", a theme chosen for the Synod. In addition to the apostolic nuncio in Switzerland, Msgr. Diego Causero, in Brex was also present Msgr. Silvano Maria Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the United Nations in Geneva. Msgr. Tomasi presented to CES members the "Caritas in Veritate" foundation, established with the purpose of representing the values of the Gospel and of the social doctrine of the Church in the framework of multilateral diplomacy, supporting proposals and projects that correspond to these values at the United Nations and across international organizations based in Geneva. Another significant meeting took place with Martin Brunner Artho, director of "Missio"-Switzerland, an international pastoral organization of the Pontifical missionary works that promote projects across 110 Countries.