Italy: general elections, Italian episcopate non-alignedThe “line of non-involvement in any choice of political or party alignment” does not – underline the Italian bishops in a communiqué – lead to the “cultural diaspora of Catholics”, but represents “a task of greater importance” in relation not only “to the major challenges” such as war and terrorism, but also to the “risk of political and legislative choices that contradict fundamental values and anthropological and ethical principles rooted in the nature of the human being, in particular with regard to the protection of human life in all its phases and the promotion of the family founded on marriage, also by avoiding the introduction into the public order of other forms of union that would contribute to destabilize it”. In the final communiqué of the Permanent Council of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, issued on 18 March, the Italian bishops also confirm they share the wide-ranging analysis presented by Cardinal Bagnasco in his keynote address. They also supplement his analysis with “the denunciation of further grave phenomena of social degradation, of which striking instances today are the scourge of accidents on the workplace, the spread of usury, and the pervasive character of the infiltrations of the mafia in many areas of the country”. Elections for a new government and the renewal of Parliament in Italy are due to be held on 13-14 April. Other issues discussed by the Permanent Council included the need to “revive the passion for education” in adults, especially vis-à-vis adolescents and youth; the commitment to “intercept the hunger for God” that is present, albeit concealed, in our time; and healthcare as an “issue of burning actuality, destined to condition even political choices in future”. The next assembly of the Italian Bishops’ Conference will be held in Rome from 26 to 30 May. Scandinavia: plenary of the bishopsFormation and ministry of permanent deacons, the status of Sunday and the formation of adults: these were the main questions tackled by the Catholic bishops of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland during their plenary held in Stiklestad, in Norway, from 7 to 12 March. The Scandinavian bishops visited Trondheim, and Tautra with its convent of Cistercian nuns, and also met a group of monks who have come from Citeaux (France) and recently founded a community at Munkerby, a site where there was a Cistercian abbey in the Middle Ages. The bishops were welcomed and hosted by the bishop prelate of Trondheim, the Most Rev. Georg Müller. In this area of Norway, thanks also to Polish immigration, the number of Catholics is growing, and their vitality is also visible through the religious communities: the Cistercians (two houses); the Brigittine Sisters; a community of sisters at Molde; the neo-catechumenal movement and the Institute of St. Boniface. The bishops also received the new apostolic nuncio for the Nordic Counties, Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig who resides in Stockholm, while the Most Rev. Peter Bürcher, bishop of Reykjavik (Iceland) since December, took part in the plenary for the first time. Some 300 Scandinavian youth are due to take part in World Youth Day in Sydney in July. In May the Scandinavian bishops have been invited to the Katholikentag (national congress) of the German Catholic Church in Osnabrück, an event in which a large delegation of Catholic laity with bishops and priests will also take part. The next session of the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference will be held in Lourdes in September.England: a website to prepare for ConfessionCasting off one’s own burdens “online” by handing them over to a website created by CASE, the agency for evangelization of the Catholic Church of England and Wales: those interested can click on www.life4seekers.co.uk/the-passion/, and there read that “you don’t have to believe in God (Jesus) or in his story for Jesus to want to help you. The reality is that, wherever you stand, Jesus was and still is only motivated by love for you”. “Don’t be afraid, enter your burden here”, urges the website, which also shows examples of sins confessed by others and offers a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus and a reflection that recalls God’s love for man. According to the Director of CASE, Monsignor Keith Barltrop, the site offers the chance to discover the profound spiritual fruits of Easter, but he explains: “in no way does it substitute the sacrament of Reconciliation, if anything it prepares for it”. “During Holy Week, Catholics commemorate the sufferings of Jesus who took our sins upon himself and restored us to the real house of God. We invite you to participate! You don’t need to be a Catholic to take part in the services of this Week, and you’ll discover the beauty and power of Easter”, said Msgr. Barltrop in announcing the initiative. The website contains videos, the chance to put questions to a priest and passages from Scripture. “Though it does not substitute the face-to-face meeting with God that is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, perhaps this initiative may prepare the faithful for the joy they will experience when they leave their burdens at God’s feet, through the hands of the priest, and see him smile full of love”, added Barltrop.
