CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Churches in Europe: the Christian approach to freedoms “Freedom and freedoms: a Christian approach”: this is the theme at the centre of the annual meeting of the joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), scheduled to take place in Rome May 6-8 on the invitation of the President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, CCEE Vice-president, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco. In the morning of Thursday May 7 Pope Francis will receive in audience the members of the two European bodies. The colloquiums are co-chaired by CEC president Rev Christopher Hill (Church of England), and by CCEE president cardinal, cardinal Péter Erdo. In a statement released ahead of the meeting CCEE and CEC declared: “the Christian approach to the fundamental right of man’s freedom and its application and understanding at social and political level in Europe today will be developed starting with the three confessional perspectives”. Card. Angelo Bagnasco will introduce the Catholic standpoint while the Protestant perspective by Rev Karin Burstrand, dean of Gothenburg (Church of Sweden); Rev Nicolas Kazarian, Professor at the Institute of Orthodox theology San Sergio and of the Catholic Institute in Paris, will present the Orthodox view. Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, KEK Vice-President, will address the theme “Freedom of expression and civil co-existence”, while archbishop Angelo Massafra, CCEE vice-president will give a contribution on “The public voice of the Churches within and individualised society”. Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, will be attending on May 8. A joint statement will be released at the end of the meeting. Ireland: Mons. Martin on the referendum of May 22 “It is important to remember that religious freedom means much more than simply the freedom to worship. Freedom of religion is linked very closely to freedom of conscience and freedom to express publicly our values and beliefs in daily life”. Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of Ireland, focused on the right of freedom of conscience in a statement on the referendum of May 22 whereby the Irish population will be asked to change Ireland’s Constitution by introducing the possibility of same-sex marriage. In a message released a few days ago the archbishop remarked: “If society adopts and imposes a ‘new orthodoxy’ of ‘gender-neutral’ marriage, being defined simply as a union between any two persons – including a man and a man, or a woman and woman – then it will become increasingly difficult to speak or teach in public about marriage as being between a man and a woman. Will there be lawsuits against individuals and groups who do not share this vision? What will we be expected to teach children in school about marriage or about homosexual acts? Will those who continue to sincerely believe that marriage is between a man and a woman be forced to act against their faith and conscience?” “As people of faith, we believe that the union of a man and a woman in marriage, open to the procreation of children, is a gift from God who created us ‘male and female'”. “Until now, Ireland has accepted that it is in the best interests of children and of society to promote and protect the model of children being born and raised in a family with their biological parents. The proposed amendment to the Constitution will remove the unique and privileged status in society for the marriage between a man and a woman”, concluded the Archbishop. Czech Republic: Spirituality Days in Brno The Department for Pastoral Care of the diocese of Brno, in cooperation with the Carmelitan publishing house, will organize a three-day meeting titled “Days of Christian spirituality” in Brno. The spiritual and cultural encounter is conceived for all those “who want to learn about and live Christian faith in full”. The event is scheduled to open on May 8 with a conference on “The inventory of what in his our heart and mind”, held by the main speaker of this year’s edition, Father Ales Opatrny, theologian, author of several books on spirituality. On May 9 the Days of Christian Spirituality will focus on several aspects of the Eucharist. Participants in the special spiritual retreat will reflect on several themes that include the Eucharist as a “precious gift in the life of ‘non-ideal’ Christians with ‘non-ideal’ neighbours, in a non-ideal world”; the philosophy of giving and receiving; and the “gratitude and praise as the chant of a heart healed to the glory of God”. The event will close on May 10 with a Mass at Saint Micheal’s church in Brno, followed by a debate on the books and contributions of Father Ales Opatrny.
