Germany: 75th anniversary of the Concordat On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the Concordat between the Catholic Church and the Baden-Württemberg Land, signed March 11 1933, Msgr. Robert Zollitsch, archbishop of Friburg and President of Germany’s Bishops Conference (Dbk), gave an overview of the relationship between the Land and the Church. Interviewed by the German Catholic news agency Kna, Zollitsch underlined the importance of the 1993 agreement and the fact that the concordat “gave a major contribution to consistent cooperation between two independent partners who mutually respect each other”. “We are glad there is such a good relationship between the State and the Church”, Zollitsch said, adding that “most controversial issues need to be jointly addressed”. According to Zollitsch, “there are hanging questions concerning ethics. For example, as relates to the present debate on stem cell research, our position is clear. In this case we have to continue admonishing in the interest of the safeguard of life. Also in the case of abortion we will never be satisfied with the fact that the unborn person enjoys less legal rights than the born person and even that abortions are subsidized by social security funds. Also as relates to active euthanasia, we will obviously always be in favor of the ‘protection of life'”, he remarked. As to the decreasing trend in the number of practicing Catholics in Germany, , Zollitsch expressed the need to “pave new paths of faith with adults” and to make the most of the evangelizing opportunities brought about with the teaching of religion which today “must be closely bound to religious practice…”. Zollitsch pointed out that religiosity, intended as “the quest for the meaning in life” is an encouraging phenomenon. However, “those who consider themselves religious aren’t necessarily Christian. In the future it will be crucial to testify our Christian faith”. Portugal: “don’t waste” the elderlyIn the second conference for Lent, in the Cathedral of Oporto, Msgr. Manuel Clemente claimed that “one of the major wastes of contemporary society is the low value given to old people”. “There is a lot to be done in the direction of the recovery and acknowledgement of all the things the elederly can do for society and for our neighbor, on the basis of their lifetime experience”, the bishop said. “In this perspective – ha added -it is advisable to encourage their contribution to families and public institutions”. According to Msgr. Clemente, “before the allegedly humanitarian – but actually senseless – proposal of euthanasia, the opposite path entailing the support of senior citizens, in particular those who are weak and ill, should be supported with the appropriate treatment and medicine, integrated by palliative treatment which proved extremely effective”. “We cannot and must not disperse the human patrimony transmitted by the elderly and infirm – he concluded – nor must we neglect them”. Bulgaria: 10 years since Msgr. Bossilkov’s beatificationOn March 8th, marking the 10th anniversary of the beatification of Msgr. Eugenio Bossilkov, the martyr killed during the years of Communism in the diocese of Nicopoli (North Bulgaria), the pilgrimage of his relics began. These will first be exposed in the churches of Belene, the hometown of the blessed Saint, devoted to “Saint Anthony”, and to the “Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. On the occasion of the anniversary, the Lithurgy Commission of the diocese issued an apposite collection of passages and prayers on the following topics: “Bossilkov and faith”, “Bossilkov and the Church”, “Bossilkov and the Eucharist”, “Bossilkov and prayer”, “Bossilkov and the Virgin Mary”, “Bossilkov and the family”, the publication includes passages from the pastoral letters of the Blessed Saint. Celebrations will culminate on March 15th, the same day when John Paul II beatified Msgr. Bossilikov in Rome. Masses of praise will be celebrated throughout the diocese of Nicopoli. In the parish church of Bardarski Geran, a Mass will be officiated by the bishop of Nicopoli, Msgr. Petko Hristov. Msgr.Bossilkov was born in Belene on September 16 1990. He was elected bishop of the diocese of Nicopoli in 1947. His outstanding intelligence and his love for the youth are his distinctive traits. In 1952 he was charged with espionage and jailed. On November 11 1952, after atrocious torture he was shot dead. In his last letters to the superiors Msgr. Bossilkov wrote, “if we won’t see a radiant future, paved with blood, others will enjoy the fruits of what we have sown”.
