Common responsibility

“Only through common responsibility, communion and collaboration is it possible to show that the Gospel responds to the great questions of European man. Only together can we tackle the historical challenges. With gratitude we experience that this communion and collaboration between the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe is growing, but we need to go forward. Our task of realizing a real exchange of gifts between the East and West of Europe is not exhausted”. These are the conclusions of the meeting of general secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, held at the cultural institution of St. Stanislaus in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 24 to 28 June 2006. “The debate – says the final communiqué of the meeting in Ljubljana, signed by the general secretary of the CCEE (Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe), Monsignor ALDO GIORDANO – first of all pointed out what are the most serious questions with which Europe and Christians are faced today”. Immigration, Islam, the process of European unification, Church-State relations, lay state, the family, life, relations with the media, secularisation and de-secularization (the latter characterized by a strong return to the sacred and to spirituality, comprising the genuine desire to rediscover the Gospel and belonging to the Church) are the great questions with which Europe is faced today; and in tackling them “there is a growing awareness that Europe is in urgent need of a common and enlightened voice on the part of the Bishops’ Conferences”. THE AGENDA. The programmes of the Bishops’ Conferences suggest that there’s a new concentration on the questions of faith, evangelization, catechesis, spirituality, prayer, the sacraments, education and mission. In this sense, the surprising reception enjoyed by the first encyclical of Benedict XVI, “Deus Caritas est”, in the various countries, also at the ecumenical level and in secular circles, is surprising. The issue of vocations was also at the centre of the reflections of the general secretaries, who also pointed out that “the credibility of the preaching of the Gospel is strongly linked to the theme of Christian unity”, even if, at the same time, “realistically it has to be said that the current ecumenical phase raises some concerns and is exposed to frustrations”. But this situation “is yet another motive for a renewed commitment”: a privileged occasion is the realization underway of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly, which will conclude at Sibiu (Romania) from 4 to 9 September 2007. The secretaries also reflected on the spread in Europe too of the pentecostal communities, neo-protestants, charismatics and free and independent churches. This is a “complex aspect of ecumenical dialogue which is still in its initial stages and requires discernment”. Other “encouraging” ecumenical events are imminent, such as the resumption of the work of the Mixed Orthodox and Catholic theological commission that is due to meet in Belgrade in September; the meeting between Catholic and Anglican bishops in England in November; and the Pope’s journey to Turkey in the autumn. MISSIONARY AWARENESS. A rebirth of missionary awareness and of the task of preaching the Gospel to the whole world was pointed out. The German Bishops’ Conference has drawn up a document on this question. Europe has a missionary “vocation” and is responsible to the Churches of other continents. Mission today has to come to terms in particular with the question of the proclamation of the Gospel to the various religions and cultures. In continuity with the symposium of European and African bishops in 2004, the CCEE and SECAM (the organization of African bishops) are formulating a project for intensifying collaboration between Africa and Europe on matters of common concern in the age of human mobility: the old and new forms of slavery; migration; the exchange of personnel for pastoral ministry; and the preaching of the gospel to the various cultures and religions. FUTURE EVENTS. The plenary assembly of the CCEE will be held at St. Petersburg (Russia) from 4 to 8 October, while the meeting of general secretaries in 2007 will be held in Slovakia from 14 to 17 June. Lastly, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the countries of the European Union) will organize a congress on the future prospects of Europe in 2007. The general secretaries of the Bishops’ Conferences underline the need in this sphere “to invest greater commitment, efforts and skill: the Churches are increasingly involved in the political, ethical and legislative decisions that are taken at Brussels or at Strasbourg”. Meanwhile, the delegates of the Catholic Churches of Europe, engaged in a research project on religious education (RE) in schools in the old continent, will meet in Rome on 10-11 July. The aims include involving the Churches, creating a network of contacts and links, and drawing up an updated report on the situation of RE in Europe.