Portugal: “relativizing” the State On the occasion of the opening of the 168th Plenary Assembly of Portugal’s Bishops Conference, under way in Fatima March 31-April 4, Msgr. Jorge Ortiga, reconfirmed as CEP President for the 2008-2011 triennium, declared that “the Church must live permanent and responsible relationships with society, relativizing the State”. “A State can protect and hinder free expression of thought in an evident or concealed manner”, he added. “We are all aware of what we can gain from a legitimately constituted authority that promotes freedom of worship and conscience at the same time offering all the conditions for it to be practiced in a spirit of equality and tolerance”. The archbishop of Braga registered a “singular contradiction: on the one hand, we witness ideological tolerance of a pluralist society, where all cultural, ideological and ethical stands ought to be viewed as legitimate and worthy of consideration. On the other, we witness an unconceivable exclusion of Catholic presence from political and public environments, almost capable of relegating us within the purely private sphere”. Referring to a “inclusive form of laity”, Msgr. Ortiga remarked that “Catholics cannot accept being excluded from an integral humanization process, and that the Church will never refrain from giving its contribution to the creation of a more just society in conformity with Christian spirit”. According to the President of CEP, “Portugal’s Christians must clearly convey, with actions and principles, their refusal to renounce the rights and responsibilities which derive also from their citizenship status”. Msgr.Ortiga concluded with an exhortation: “Christians need to rediscover their responsibilities in the social and political spheres”. Austria: minarets, what now?For or against minarets in Austria? The question was raised following the request for the construction of a minaret in Northern Austria’s mosques. This led to controversial reactions not only on the part of the public opinion, but also of Austria’s Bishops Conference. In an interview with diocesan paper Linzer Kirchenzeitung ,Msgr. Ludwig Schwarz, bishop in Linz, capital of the region in question, said he supports the construction of the minaret. “Islam is a religion which was recognized by the State in 1912”, he declared. “This is why also Muslims have the right to build God’s homes to praise Him”. “We also expect”, he pointed out, “that we will be enabled to build Churches in Muslim Countries. However, even though these Countries don’t always meet our requests, we must continue promoting freedom of worship in our Country. The construction of minarets is not the most important issue”, he added. Msgr. Schwarz espoused the views of card. Christoph Schönborn, President of Austria’s Bishops Conference. In a recent interview His Eminence hadn’t expressed reservations on the construction of minarets. Opposing positions were conveyed by Msgr. Elmar Fischer (from the diocese of Feldkirch) and by Msgr. Alois Kothgasser (Salsburg), Msgr. Egon Kapellari (Graz) and by the auxiliary bishop of Salsburg Msgr. Andreas Laun. England: little interest, great confusionThe number of people who were ‘received’ in the Catholic Church of Aberdeen this Easter increased fourfold. An outstanding increase if compared with other dioceses. In 2007, according to a survey by the Catholic weekly “The Tablet”, only five people converted to Catholicism while this year they amount to 21. Another diocese which registered a high number of conversions is Leeds, where baptized faithful passed from 110 last year to 163. The overall number of people who converted to Catholicism in England, Wales and Scotland has remained the same. There was also an interesting survey according to which most English citizens believe in Resurrection. The survey was carried out by the theology think-tank “Theos”, according to which 57% of interviewees believe in Resurrection: 30% declared that Christ resurrected with his own body and 27% said he resurrected in Spirit. When asked who Jesus is, 40% replied he’s the Son of God, almost half said he’s only a prophet and 66% said he was “a good person and a wise master”. Only 13% replied that Jesus never existed. According to Keith Barltrop, director of “Homes”, the Catholic Church agency for evangelization of England and Wales, the results of the survey show people’s interest for faith and also the “widespread confusion” on the truths of faith.
