France: the bishops’ attention to bioethics”Far from adopting the perspective of a particular confession, what we hope is that our heritage be placed at the service of society”, said Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris and President of the French Bishops’ Conference, in explaining the style with which the bishops of France are intervening on delicate bioethical questions. The cardinal explained his position, and that of his fellow bishops, in the final speech with which he concluded the plenary assembly of the French episcopate at Lourdes on Friday 4 April. “It is not a question – said Cardinal Vingt-Trois – of claiming a particular recognition over other approaches and conceptions of man and of life, still less of imposing it”. The bishops, however, wish to offer “the light that is given to us by Christian wisdom” and submit it “to discussion”. The intention – explained the cardinal – is to “help prevent our culture and our society from succumbing to the fascination of the culture of death”. The bishops also ask that “freedom of conscience be not only formally affirmed but also effectively respected in the field of research as in that of healthcare. What is technically possible is not necessarily good for the person subjected to it or for the society that authorises it”. The bishops – concluded the archbishop – will continue their work of reflection on bioethics to “make a useful contribution to the debates that will take place in our country on the occasion of the reform of the laws on bioethics”. Portugal: “improving the educational system”The 168th plenary assembly of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference ended at Fatima in recent days. It was also attended by the President of the Conference of Portuguese Religious Institutes and the President of the National Federation of Secular Institutes. In their final communiqué the bishops emphasized in particular the situation of schools in Portugal: “Education at school, anthropologically founded and aimed at the integral development of the human person, of each and every pupil, is an absolute need for the future of Portuguese society”. A particular appeal was made to the main interlocutors: “To pupils, the bishops wish to underline how important is their effort and dedication to study, at a time of profound changes and uncertainties, which require from the new generations sound basic knowledge, the search for the meaning of life, discipline, critical spirit and active civil participation”. “To parents, the bishops “wish to express their appreciation for the love with which they dedicate themselves to the education of their children, which today needs an even more careful accompaniment, in a social context in which the problems and dilemmas are increasing, and in which a proper formation and the possibility of sharing solutions do not exist”. “To teachers, recognizing the growing complexity in which they have to perform their mission and exert their professional authority, the bishops wish to address words of encouragement and trust, conscious of the good results already achieved, both in state and in private schools”. “Only in a climate of trust, of mutual understanding and hope is it possible to improve the educational system”, concludes the communiqué. Belgium: Cardinal Danneels in China A delegation of Belgian bishops, led by Cardinal Godfried Danneels, left on 31 March for a pastoral visit to China that will end in two weeks’ time. The delegation is made up of the bishops of Bruges, Tournai, Lieges and Brabant Walloon, the general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference, and the heads of the main missionary congregations in Belgium. The group – says a dispatch from the Belgian Catholic press agency “Cathobel” – will meet representatives of the “two Churches”, the official Chinese Church and the underground Church faithful to the authority of Rome. The delegation will also visit the tombs of Belgian missionaries. “The fact that the Belgian delegation has gone to China at this time – explains Cathobel – is purely casual”. The bishops have already visited Beijing and the diocese of Shenyang (in the province of Liaoning). On Sunday 6 April they arrived in the so-called “village of pines”, it too in the region of Liaoning. Here they were warmly welcomed with applause, the waving of flags and firecrackers by a crowd of some 1,500 well-wishers. After the exchange of greetings, the ceremony ended with the singing of the ‘Our Father’ in Chinese.
