Testimonies of unity

A welcoming ceremony to the sound of the traditional Scottish harp in the great hall of the castle of Edinburgh signaled the "importance and the distinction that through you we ascribe to the Catholic Church". These were the opening remarks delivered by the Scottish Secretary of State (Permanent Secretary), sir Peter Housden, who welcomed on the evening of June 30 the CCEE General Secretaries convened in the Scottish capital for their 40th annual meeting. The institutional visit also served to revive the visit of Benedict XVI to Scotland in September. "We have had the wonderful opportunity of hosting Benedict XVI in Edinburgh and Scotland. On that occasion – recalled the representative of the Scottish government – people’s enthusiasm was touching, testifying to the importance of Catholic faith in Scotland marked by the presence of over 500 thousand faithful. They bear daily witness to this spirit, as individuals and as a community, owing to the pastoral support of the local Church. In Scotland there are also faithful from other religions which the government encourages and supports, following the example of the Catholic Church which in the figure of Pope Julius II recognized Scotland as a national State in 1407". The greeting of sir Housden was echoed by father Duarte da Cunha, CCEE Secretary, and Msgr. Antonio Mennini, Apostolic nuncio in London. They both underlined the Christian roots of Europe and the need to defend and promote these roots which represent the civil and social foundation of the Old Continent.Defending the roots. The theme of the Christian roots of Europe was reiterated on July 1st – the last day of the meeting before the press conference of July 2 – by Msgr. Mennini. "The Pope – he said – often points out that we are living in a secularized world that tends to remove religion from the public realm. We must not allow Europe to forget her roots. Conversely, her citizens and her world in crisis should be given the Good News of love, justice and peace. Church mission doesn’t lie within social, economic or political order. It is to be found in the religious and spiritual planes. The Church should undertake the same journey of humanity and share its challenges".The challenge of ecumenism. Challenges such as the global financial crisis, the attacks on the family, bioethics, the defense of life in all its stages, all these issues demand a joint response from Christian Churches, which place ecumenical dialogue among their primary commitments. The concept was underlined by Fr Stefano Smyth, General Secretary of ACTS (Action of Christian Churches Together in Scotland) and by Bob Fyffe, canonical of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, Secretary General of CTBI (Churches Together in Great Britain and Ireland). "The focal point of ecumenical dialogue – said Fr Smyth – is acknowledging the goodness of the other. There are ecclesiological differences within the various Churches: it’s important to bear them in mind and avoid focusing on divisions". In Scotland, he added, "the dialogue is between different ecclesiologies, namely the Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Catholic", and it’s necessary to enable these different visions to meet, thus enhancing their mutual talents. There are small Churches with prophetical voices that deserve being acknowledged and listened to more that the larger ones do". "Our Churches must pass from cooperation to unity", reiterated the Canonical Fyffe for whom it’s important to "serve, study, pray and communicate the work that is brought forth, not only in the field of ecumenism but also in the field of inter-religious dialogue". The problematic aspect of ecumenical dialogue is evident. Nonetheless, it’s necessary to "release joint statements on the most relevant topical issues and adopt joint working methods". An answer for Europe. The new evangelization and the Year of Faith can give Europe the answers it is seeking at this serious time of moral and economic crisis, returning to breathe with two lungs, the West and the East. The point was made by Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, in the homily of the Mass jointly celebrated in St. Mary’s cathedral on July 1st with the General Secretaries of the European Bishops’ Conferences. The cardinal identified in the cultural, political and social realms the place where Gospel proclamation with the "testimony of unity" can be shared. "The Gospel – he said – must once more inspire all of our actions for the respect of the human person, human rights, justice, the reception of migrants, and tolerance". For the prelate "the absence of faith isolates us, it divides us and prevents us from putting into practice the evangelical values that are the true and only answers to the crisis of the present times. We must ask ourselves what we can do for the common good and for democracy". "Faith – concluded Card. O’Brien – cannot be confined to the private sphere. It should recover a specific role in our societies".