Switzerland: bishops’ letter from the Holy Land At the end of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Swiss bishops issued a Pastoral Letter for the faithful written on the Genesareth Lake past March 7 and recently made public. The bishops’ intention wasn’t only “to visit the Holy Places” but especially “to meet our brothers in faith and convey to them our solidarity…They are forced to live as a small minority in this disputed Country…They conveyed their concern for their daily lives which is often very difficult. The emergency can no longer continue if Christians feel they have been abandoned. We are saddened by the Country’s division, which recalls the one experienced in Europe until a few years ago. This division aggravates the lives of these brothers and sisters, at times rendering it unbearable. We were impressed by the stories of the war victims, and by the concerns regarding food supply. However, we were equally impressed by the certainty of the faith, the true joy of faith expressed by our brothers. They reminded us of Mary’s compliance with God’s will. We were under the impression that also in Switzerland we have much to learn from this joy and from the enthusiasm in the transmission of faith. We exhort you not to cease supporting our brothers and sisters in hardship with financial aid, and especially with prayers for them and for the peaceful coexistence in this Country. If possible, we encourage you to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to visit the holy places of Jesus’ life and suffering and to testify your solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the land of Jesus, in the joy of the Resurrected One. What we can do for them in Switzerland is to promote understanding and mutual respect, not only between Christian Churches, but also between different religions. Above all, we are bound to our faith with love and faithful hope in Jesus Christ, messenger of peace”, concludes the letter. England: guide to the law on mental health A guide to disentangle the complexities of the “Mental Capacity Act”, issued in 2007 by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. The Church conducted a long campaign to banish euthanasia and assisted suicide from the new law on the rights of the seriously ill who are unable to decide for themselves of their own life. The new Act distances itself from the Catholic doctrine in many points and paves the way to ambiguities which may conceal minor abuses. One of the many examples: while the Church considers foods and liquids as basic treatment, the “Mental Capacity Act” defines them as medical treatments that can be suspended in given circumstances. To explain these kinds of differences and clarify the nature of new figures like the “attorneys”, who can be given mandate to decide of one’s physical conditions if there were no longer mental clarity, the Bishops of England and Wales published the “Mental Capacity Act Guide. A practical guide for Catholics”. The Church also organized a three-day study session to be held between April and May where priests and medical staff, along with whoever is interested, may retrieve information on the new Act. “As Christians we’re sure that every human life is a gift of God and that in order to fully live this life we must love each other. Mental or physical illnesses are part of human condition and most of us will have to deal with them at a given point of our lives”, wrote the Archbishop of Cardiff Msgr. Peter Smith, President of the Department for Christian citizenship and responsibility in the introduction to the publication which is available on the website of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Belgium: pilgrimage of the youth for Palm Sunday Sharing, meeting each other, socializing and praying. This is the objective of Belgium’s Bishops Conference on the occasion of the youth meeting to be held on March 16th, Palm Sunday, World Youth Day, lived in diocesan key while waiting for Sydney (July 15-20). In the morning the youth will meet in their dioceses and vicarages and then from five different places, Brabant Wallon, Bruxelles, Namur, Hainaut and Liegi, they will head to the basilica of Koekelberg where they will lunch together and attend workshops in the different languages. After the evening meal a long procession will proceed up to the basilica where a prayer vigil, similar to the one held in Taizé, will introduce the youth to the celebrations and rites of the Holy Week. During the meeting some youth will be translating the works into French and Dutch, while other volunteers will be in charge of logistics. Finally, there will be an invitation to participate in Sydney’s WYD. There are only few places still available.
