The family, hope and fatigue ” “

The reflection ahead of the Synod on the family was the main theme of the works of the plenary meeting of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference – Öbk – that brought together for the first time in Germany along the shores of Constance Lake from March 2 to 5. The issues on end-of-life, solidarity to Christian victims of persecution, and the climate protection were also addressed by Austrian prelates during the three-day meeting. At the Synod “without hurry”. The bishops highlighted the fact that the Synod reflection and outcomes must not be the result of “hastened solutions”. It is a response to the request for an “open discussion”, following the Pope’s invitation. In fact, the objective of “a concrete solution to all the problems and challenges of the family and of affective relationship” should be the final goal. For the bishops, after a first phase of reflection on the situation of affective relationships aimed at “clarifying the discernment of the spirit”, as Jesus, who “accompanied with truth, patience and Christian love” the people’s progress towards the Kingdom of God, it is crucial to address various situations of life in “an attitude of love and appreciation to support people in their progress towards Christian family life”. The next Synod should encourage the young families in order to achieve long-lasting love according to the Christian ideal. This is a personal hope, underlined the bishop of St. Pölten, Msgr. Klaus Küng. The Synod should make people aware of the fact that “everyone can live high ideals with the help of God”, despite personal weaknesses. “Some of the developments in our societies are clearly decadent”, Küng said at the end of the plenary. The lack of housing for many youths is but another cause of the drop in marriages and of “society’s atomization”. At the same time, Küng, confirmed to the post of family pastoral care, identified “germs of hope, with young people that seriously consider leading a Christian life in this society in order to become “beacons” that provide guidance and should be “encouraged” by the Synod. Dignity of end-of-life. The bishops praised and paid homage to the Parliamentary Commission of inquiry on “human dignity at the end of life” for its “groundbreaking vote” in supporting hospices and the development of palliative treatment in Austria, and for developing the themes of living will and the greater distribution of healthcare. Especially in the framework of “alarming developments” in other countries, already in the general fall assembly the bishops mentioned the dangers of a “relaxation” towards euthanasia, underlining the inviolable dignity of all of life and the integration of a ban on euthanasia in the Constitution. The determination of the Inquiry Committee which ruled that hospices and palliative treatments are not only one of the most humane forms of medicine but that they are also convenient for sanitary and social expenses, should be “sufficient for a rapid implementation of the parliamentary recommendations”, the bishops wrote. Solidarity to persecuted Christians. The theme of violent persecution against Christians in the Middle East was the focus of the third day of the meeting. Mindful the “genocide” carried out against the heirs of early Christianity”, put into place by ISIS terrorist militia, the bishops highlighted the urgent need for full solidarity. Recalling the genocide of Armenian and Syrian Christians of 100 years ago, with the massacre of some 1.5 million Armenian Christians and some 500 thousand Syrian Christians in the years 1915-1923, Austrian bishops denounced that the murder continues under the eyes of the entire world. This reveals the failure of the international community and the inability to protect all people at risk in an effective manner regardless of their religious affiliation. The help of the Austrian Church has put together over 3 million Euros, but a further effort to Christian communities was demanded. On the fifth Sunday of Lent (March 22) a collection will take place in Austria for persecuted Christians because of their faith. Climate change: ecumenical pilgrimage? In another statement, the bishops took a stand on climate change. To highlight the passage “to a simple and responsible life in full respect of God’s creation” the proposal of an ecumenical pilgrimage to obtain greater climate justice will take place in Austria, and in other European countries, “as a concrete sign ahead of the world summit on climate in Paris”