France, Belgium

France: do not import the Middle Eastern conflict “Do not import the Middle-Eastern conflict”. On the request of the presidency of the French Bishops’ Conference (CEF), Monsignor Stanislas Lalanne, bishop of Pontoise, has represented the Catholic Church on the occasion of the meeting of the Conference of Religious Leaders in France (CRCF) with president Hollande past July 21, upon the aftermath of acts of anti-Semitism that took place the previous day in the Parisian suburb of Sarcelles, when pro-Palestinian protests flared into urban guerrilla, demonstrators looted shops, broke windows, set to fire kosher stores and attacked the synagogue. In an interview published on the website of the Church of France www.eglisecatholique.fr, Msgr. Lalanne commented the joint declaration released by the Ile-de-France bishops. “What happened in Sarcelles and in other areas is very serious”. With this declaration “we intend to express our firm, categorical condemnation of all acts of anti-Semitism, whether verbal or physical”. Such forms of violence “find no justification in the tensions linked to international conflicts”. “It’s extremely important not to import the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, underlined Msgr. Lalanne”. Whilst highlighting that the acts of violence have been committed by “a well organized” minority group, the bishop invited not to confuse the violent protesters, “that will have to be brought to trial for their deeds, with the majority of French citizens, who are peaceful people regardless of their religious affiliation”. He added: “In France there isn’t a conflict between Muslims and Jews”. Msgr. Lalanne said that during the meeting with President Hollande he perceived “true concern of State leaders over a risk of fragmentation of national unity”, he called for the need for a widespread, in-depth “educational project” aimed at “mutual understanding between the members of different cultures and faiths”, starting with local meetings “between groups and associations” for dialogue. Belgium: July 31, 21st anniversary of the death of king Baldwin On July 31 recurs the 21st anniversary of the death of king Baldwin in Belgium, died for a heart attack in his residence in Motril, Spain. On July 31st, like every year, to commemorate the memory of the sovereign loved by his people, who stood on line for hours to pay homage to his remains, a Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in Notre-Dame de Laeken. For the occasion the Royal Crypt will be open to the public from 10 to 17 hrs. The Eucharist (at 11.00) will be officiated by Msgr. Herman Cosijns, Secretary of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, animated by the youth choir “In spiritu vehementi” coordinated by Rev Van Steen, in cooperation with the baroque orchestra “Praeludium aeternae Vitae” directed by Luc De Sterck. Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave, King of Belgium from July 16 1951 to July 31 1993, was a man of profound, coherent Catholicism. His “institutionally striking” gesture whereby on April 4 1989 he refused to sign a legislative document approved by Parliament in support of abortion practices, is recorded in history. The king was willing to abdicate in order not to oppose the vote of Parliament, but the Chambers devised a constitutional way out by declaring the sovereign’s “inability to reign” for twenty-four hours, just long enough to allow the government to adopt the measure in his stead. On April 5, Baldwin was re-established in his functions. At the general audience of 7 June 1995, Pope John Paul II said he was “a great guardian of the rights of the human conscience”, while at the Funeral Mass Cardinal Gottfried Danneels said: “The day will come when the extraordinary bearing of King Baldwin will be revealed”. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has introduced his beatification process.