The abolition in France of the feast of Pentecost in 2005 may risk “seriously damaging the social life and religious activities” of the country: that’s the warning made by Archbishop Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux and president of the French Episcopal Conference, during its general assembly held in Lourdes in recent days. The French government has in fact proposed that the public holiday of Pentecost be abolished and that the equivalent of one day’s supplementary work be devolved to initiatives of national solidarity. “We have no intention of evading a duty of national solidarity”, explains Archbishop Ricard, “but it’s not up to us to pronounce on what solution to take”. The ” suppression of Whit Monday as a public holiday, if confirmed for 2005″ would, in the view of the French bishops, pose a danger. For “it has long been a privileged moment in which national and local pilgrimages, diocesan celebrations, youth gatherings and family reunions are held”. “We fear the bishops conclude that its suppression would seriously damage social life and religious activities. We are available for any type of concertation to remedy this situation”.
