CHURCHES IN BRIEF " " " "
Switzerland: 150th of the Bishops’ Conference Next June 2 in Einsiedeln we will jointly celebrate 150 years marking the foundation of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (CVS) and the internal Mission (IM). “Both bodies were established in 1863 to promote the life of the Church in Switzerland”, states a release by the bishops announcing the celebrations. “CVS enhances the cooperation among Swiss bishops. The Internal Mission, the most long-established Catholic charity in the Country, provides support to Catholics living in poverty-stricken regions through co-funding of churches, chaplaincies and pastoral projects”. “Let us build the Church together – joy in God is our strength” is the theme of the day, which Swiss bishops and the Internal Bishops call upon Catholics from across Switzerland to attend. Doris Leuthard will be the guest of honor. A Mass will be officiated in the afternoon, with the musical accompaniment of six choirs of boys and girls, the schola corale of Einsiedeln, two organists and a band. “From the children parish choir to the choir of monks, 150 voices arriving from all dioceses will present the Church of Switzerland from a small perspective”, states the release. The Eucharistic celebration will be followed by “a symbolic act and activities in the convent”, a reception with music, local dishes from all the dioceses is scheduled at the end of the day in the abbey’s cloister. The celebration “is a première since the establishment of the CVS and IM, creating a bridge linking generations, dioceses, and linguistic regions”. Lithuania: a statement on the protection of life On May 31st was released a “statement on the protection of human life”, signed by the Catholic Church (archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, president of the bishops’ conference), by the evangelical Church (bishop Mindaugas Sabutis) and by the Orthodox Church (archbishop Inokentijus) in Lithuania. “We are aware that the protection of human life in some cases could become a dilemma”, wrote church leaders. “However, it should not be a reason to loose determination in the defense of life”. “Sometimes the debate on the protection of new life seeks to draw a comparison between values and rights according to their importance, thus giving a distorted portrayal of a supposed balance between various possible options”. Thus, the document exemplifies, the document protects privacy as if its value were on equal standing as that of human life. “Every human life is a gift that has value, that should be allowed to see the light”, it condemns “the creation of life outside woman’s body, with the fertilization of genetically unique human embryos”, as well as all forms of “abortion that always entails stripping people from life”. Church leaders write: “the protection of human life is a task of incomparable moral importance, that goes beyond the borders of nations, religions, world visions, ideologies, and the limits of political affiliation. For this reason” concludes the document, “we support all yearnings to provide utmost protection of human life from the moment of conception and invite all people of good will, policymakers, public figures and all other citizens to contribute to this effort”.Germany: Renovabis, solidarity becomes history On the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin wall German Catholics, lay people, bishops and priests of eastern and western German felt the need to set up a solidarity initiative between the east and the west of Europe to support populations of former communist regimes “in the recovery of freedom and in their efforts aimed at the creation of more respectful social relations for human dignity under the banner of fraternity”. Thus in March 1993 was born Renovabis, a charitable institution, which just like its sister Misereor, devoted to solidarity to the south of the world, doesn’t only deal with sending financial aids, but also promotes a partnership between eastern and western Europe for the reconciliation of Christians, in a synergic action between the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK). During the latest Renovabis assembly delegates approved 250 projects for 2013, with a budget of 12.5 million euros. Special attention during the year is devoted “to disabled people living in eastern Countries, and to those afflicted by poverty and social isolation”. Since its establishment Renovabis supported 19,100 projects amounting to some 560 million euros. Financial support is provided with fund-collection (notably the Pentecost fund-collection across German parishes), donations, public funding, which are invested in pastoral, social and cultural initiatives, as well as in education (scholarships.) “Solidarity is non-divisible”, was and continues to be the key word of an institution that provides support regardless of borders and religious identity.
