Appeal to responsibility” “

A whole people that closes ranks round the Pope, praying for his health and for his intentions: that is the image that the Polish bishops, meeting in plenary sessions in recent days, have wished to send to John Paul II in a letter. The various questions discussed during the assembly included the formation of the clergy, the special Year of the Eucharist, economic development on the one hand and the impoverishment of the population on the other, and various ethical questions. A résumé of the assembly’s work is given below. “ONGOING FORMATION” FOR THE CLERGY. The Polish Bishops’ Conference met for its spring plenary assembly in Warsaw, under its president Cardinal Josef Michalik in recent days. The bishops called for an act of commemoration of the many priests who were martyred during the Second World War, and appealed to the Polish population to spiritually unite with them on the occasion of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp of Dachau on 29 April. The situation of the clergy and their pastoral action were among the central themes of the plenary assembly. “Today this service is more difficult than in the past – it was pointed out – due to the spread of secularism and moral relativism”. The bishops of Poland are agreed on the need, in this situation, to aim at a qualified “ongoing formation” of priests, both in the pastoral and spiritual sense, so that the clergy may continue to be an effective guide to the Polish people, over 90% of whom declare themselves Catholics. This formation, both for young priests and seminarians and for the more elderly and experienced clergy, must consist – the bishops insisted – on “multidisciplinary openness”, so that priests “are increasingly and more effectively able to respond to the challenges of the contemporary world”. A particular aspect of these reflections also concerned the norms to which clergy and religious need to conform to be able to participate in radio and television broadcasts. Approved by the Holy See with a decree issued on 7 January, the norms are already in force. FOR A FUTURE IN THE NEW EUROPE. Preparations are also going ahead in Poland for the national Eucharistic Congress, to be held in Warsaw on 18-19 June in conjunction with the special Year of the Eucharist called by the Pope. The Congress will be attended by representatives of the dioceses, which, in turn, are proposing courses of reflection, prayer and preparation. Apart from this event, the bishops also recalled another event that is involving the whole country: the pilgrimage of the “Roman image” of the Madonna della Sapienza (Our Lady of Wisdom). Since December 2004 the sacred icon has been visiting all the university centres of the country, and the occasion also serves to remind Catholic youth of the approaching WYD in Cologne, in August 2005, in which the Pope is also expected to participate. Again in the religious and liturgical field, the bishops also tackled the question of the pledge made 200 years ago, when a vow was made in Warsaw to build a new cathedral. The bishops expressed the hope that this vow would be finally fulfilled, “also as a sign that our national community is entering into a responsible future of the peoples of Europe”. A first day of campaigning and fund-raising for the new church has been fixed for Sunday, 1st May, the initial day of the Marian month and festivity of Mary Queen of Poland. DIFFICULT SOCIAL SITUATION. The Polish bishops expressed concerns about the country’s social and economic situation. A statement issued at the end of the session declares: “It is very sad to see that the country’s economic and political elites lack responsibility about the common good of the Polish people. The impoverishment of many social groups and unemployment are constantly growing. Health care is experiencing a profound crisis. The administration of justice is also giving rise to concern”. Apart from economic and social aspects, the bishops also debated various “ethical” issues. Appreciation was expressed for the decision of Parliament to support the protection of the unborn child (with sharp curbs on abortion) and concern about current proposals to legalise euthanasia and give legal recognition to homosexual unions.