“The Church should refrain from interfering in politics: societies’ organization and its institutions are politicians’ responsibility”. These words were pronounced by the archbishop of Brussels Cardinal Godfried Danneels while leading the Te Deum rite in the Saint Michel and Gudul Cathedral for the King Festivity on November 15. “Undoubtedly”, the Cardinal pointed out, “the Church and the State are both aimed at the common good and at citizens’ wellbeing, however they employ different means which should not be confused”. “The Church’s task is to guard over man’s heart “, the Cardinal explained that it is “a policy of the heart”, based on “the ability to live with one another. Since original sin, it is hard for us to live with others even if we would like to”. Christ shows us the way to overcome conflicts which oppress humanity. “The ‘other’ is my brother and my sister. Love is a free act which respects difference characterizing the other”. Without probing into the difficult internal situation of Belgium, which recently witnessed a division between Walloon and the Flanders, Cardinal Danneels concluded with an appeal “to pray for the Country’s differences and for unity”.
