“The problem of children and adolescents who do not feel accepted at home must form one of the top priorities of the pastoral action of the Church”, declared the Scandinavian bishops, at the end of their twice-yearly assembly, held in Copenhagen, in Denmark, in recent days. After analysing the final document of the 1st international meeting for the pastoral care of street children, promoted by the Pontifical Council for the pastoral care of migrant and itinerant people in the Vatican in October 2004, the Scandinavian bishops decided to submit it to the scrutiny of a wide range of agencies in their dioceses, and ask them to read it in the light of the recent Pastoral Letter on the family. The reflections of these agencies will contribute to the future action of the bishops, concerned by the condition of children and adolescents who, especially at night, at the weekends and during the holidays, spent too much time away from their home and practically live on the street. Other questions tackled by the Scandinavian bishops during their meeting included the reform of the education of priests and deacons, catechesis and the permanent formation of adults with particular attention to young adults, and the preparation for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly in 2007, for which Bishop Georg Müller of Trondheim has assumed responsibility. During the assembly, the bishops also visited the sanctuary of St. Knud at Odense, and were the guests of the local Lutheran bishop Kresten Dreijergaard.
