CHURCHES IN BRIEF
EU/Churches, ecumenical delegation in Athens A meeting between the vice-minister for foreign affairs with responsibilities for European Affairs, Dimitris Kourkoulas, and an ecumenical delegation, took place in Athens January 10 “to discuss the main themes that the Greek presidency of the EU intends to address”, notably the problems tied “to social cohesion and migration”, states a note released by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). “The Churches support the Greek presidency in the decision to step up cohesion and strengthen the social dimension of Europe”, states the release. The appeal states that while seeking to solve the employment crisis, special attention should be placed on the quality of employment” especially among young people, to “avoid the precarious situation and the development of a new class of poverty-stricken workers”. As regards migration, the focus was on “the lack of European legislation”, the need to “promote greater solidarity” for reception and ensure “a more human treatment” of migrants. The delegation of dignitaries representing COMECE and the Church and Society Commission (CEC) of the Conference of European Churches, and minister Kourkoulas, has asked to keep the debate on these issues open. CCEE, bishop Giordano’s farewell from St Gallen”Another Europe is possible and it will depend also on the thought, the commitment, the sense of responsibility and the faith of Christians living there”, archbishop Aldo Giordano, nominated apostolic nuncio in Venezuela by Pope Francis, told SIR Europe. Before his departure, scheduled for the beginning of February, the archbishop asked to meet, (January 7) all those with whom he started his service to the Church in Europe as general secretary of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). He continued his service in 2008 as permanent observer of the Holy See at the Council of Europe. The presentation of the book-interview, “Another Europe is possible”, by Alberto Campoleoni, motivated the meeting in St. Gallen after the Mass in the cathedral to the presence of the author of the interview, diocesan bishop Markus Büchel, bishop emeritus Ivo Fürer, CCEE president emeritus Amédée Grab, CCEE secretary Msgr. Duarte da Cunha with the participation of past and present working staff of the secretariat. The Netherlands: “Kerkbalans”, ecumenical fundraising The “Kerkbalans” campaign, the initiative of Dutch churches that collects funds in support of local communities, was given renewed impetus a few days ago. Since 1973 the Catholic, protestant, Old-Catholic, Mennonite and Calvinist communities have been working together: “At the beginning of each year over 500 thousand volunteers ask believers in their respective faith communities to give money for charity”, the organizers said. It is “the most important fundraising initiative in Holland, and the Churches’ major source of sustenance”. The title of the 2014 campaign is: “How much is the Church worth for me?” “Over the past years of joint activity, there has never been dissonance between the Churches”, wrote Catholic economist Emile Duijsens, president of the coordinating committee of Kerkbalans, on the website of the Dutch bishops. “All the members of the committee have acknowledged a drop in donations, which in 2012 amounted to 2.8%, a part of which was made up by a decrease in church expenses”, Duijsens added. For the Catholic Church, in 2012 the Kerkbalans initiative brought to parishes some 57 million euros. Every Church uses the funds in different ways: pastoral activities, staff, property maintenance etc.Portugal: support to migrants’ families For the New Year, the São João de Deus Foundation launched a new solidarity project in Portugal titled: “We are for you, we are for Portugal”, through which it intends to provide support to the families of migrant populations. “It’s a pilot program that intends to give support to the families of people outside the Country, who belong to a weak social network of support in the areas of Lisbon and Guarda”, said Sandra Silva, coordinator of the project. In concrete terms, this “free service”, to be tested in the next two years, due to encompass also the region of Oporto and the Azore island, will be supported by “groups of psychologists, social workers and sociologists, who will work in conjunction with institutions that provide support to migrants, thereby seeking to preserve family bonds.” In addition to the team of experts, the project will enjoy the cooperation of several volunteer workers and of the Observatory of Luso-descendants.
