CHURCHES IN BRIEF
France: the Church’s commitment against euthanasia An appeal to “fraternity” towards the most vulnerable concludes the End of Life Statement presented a few days ago in Paris by a pool of experts appointed by the French Bishops’ Conference, guided by the Archbishop of Rennes, Monsignor Pierre d’Ornellas. The document was presented ahead of the end-of-life debate at the National Assembly after three-year-long discussions and the presentation of a Report drawn up by MPs Claeys and Leonetti at the end of 2014. The Report calls for a revision of the current law that regulates euthanasia in France and for the introduction of patients’ right to “profound and constant sedation” in case of illness deemed incurable and “with fatal prognosis in the short term”. “The long journey towards full citizenship, understood to last until the very last moments of life – write the experts appointed by the French bishops – is not accomplished by claiming new rights. It’s necessary to develop a culture of treatment highlighting and implementing solidarity and fraternity”. In the statement the experts of the Bishops’ Conference launched a “cry of alarm” on the state of palliative medicine and treatment in France, which they describe as a “paramount national cause”. A demonstration for life, against euthanasia, is planned for January 25 at Place de la Bastille in Paris. The purpose is to “denounce the threat that weighs heavily on the most vulnerable brackets (old, diseased, disabled people)”, namely “the legalization of actions linked to euthanasia”. Spain: meeting of diocesan delegates on communication From January 26-28 the Bishops’ Conference on Social Communication (CEMS), chaired by Monsignor Ginés García Beltrán, bishop of Guadix, organizes in Madrid the Assembly of diocesan delegates of means of communication, titled, “Communicating the family: a privileged environment for encounter”. For the occasion, CEMS proposes as a theme of reflection the role played by communication in the development of the family as a privileged place of encounter, related to the theme of the World Day of Social Communications, to reflect also on the role of the delegates of means of social communication at the service of the Church and of information. This year, the European Meeting of Young People and the fifth centenary of the birth of Saint Theresa of Jesus in Avila will also offer the opportunity of first-hand knowledge on means of communication. The opening session, set to focus on the key theme of the Assembly, will be chaired by Fr Ariel Beramendi, from the Pontifical Council of Social Communications. The second day participants will travel to Avila to learn more about the communication features of Saint Theresa as well as the communicative dimension of the celebration of the Jubilee Year with the participation of Father Francisco Javier Sancho, Auxi Rueda and José Gabriel Vera. Portugal: focus on societal restlessness On Thursday, January 15 about 30 movements, communities and Catholic organizations held the first of a series of six monthly meetings aimed at promoting the initiative “Listen to the city”, integrated in the preparation of the Diocesan Synod in Lisbon, scheduled for November 2016. The purpose of the project is to “give voice to people who do not belong to the Church, who are not usually heard”. The first session, focused on the theme “Identity, behaviours and ways of life”, featured speeches by the literary critic of the newspaper “Público”, António Guerreiro, Professor Maria Benedita Monteiro, an expert on problems related to racism and ethnic relations, and sociologist José Machado Pais. Opening the debate, journalist Jorge Wemans, a member of the Movement of Catholic professionals (Metanoia), explained: “These are meetings where we invite the Catholics of the Diocese of Lisbon to listen to the needs of those who have no constraints and actively take part in associations and communities, in order to prompt a wider and deeper reflection on the territory and the diocese itself”. The former director of the television channel RTP2 said he hopes that “from the concerns put forward by several speakers, Catholics may better understand how they can help to overcome societal difficulties”. Finland: ecumenical debates on Church authority “Authority inside the Church” is the fil rouge of three seminars organized by the Council of the Churches in Finland in conjunction with the Studium Catholicum of the Dominicans in Helksinki and the Lutheran Church. “We intend to devote a debate session on this issue to give a contribution to the official ecumenical commitment among the Churches and the debate inside the Churches”, the organizers said. The point of reference of the reflection will be the document published in 2013 by the Commission Faith and Constitution of the Ecumenical Council of Churches “The Church, towards a common vision”, that “ecclesiologically expresses points of convergence that have been achieved, while leaving open the problem of authority and its exercise”, which the seminars in Helskinki will address. The first, held January 20 focused on the theme: “The ultimate source of authority inside the Church”. The next meetings will take place in March and May.
