Opportunity and risks

An event for the Church and for Catholics in Bulgaria. In fact, except for the visit of John Paul II, so many Church representatives had never before convened in this Balkan Country where Catholics represent only 1% of the population. The eighth annual meeting of the Presidents of the Bishops Conferences of South-East Europe, held in Sophia past February 28- March 2 following the initiative of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, gave renewed hope and visibility to Bulgaria’s “small flock”. “The preparation of engaged couples and the spiritual formation of spouses” was the topic of the meeting which focused on the experience in the different Countries represented and on the reality of mixed marriages, between Catholics and non-baptized Catholics, as in those cases where one of the spouses isn’t baptized (Muslim or Jew). The gathering was attended by the president of the Bishops Conferences, His Eminence cardinal Vinko Puljic (archbishop of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Msgr. Ioan Robuu (archbishop of Bucarest, Romania), Stanislav Hocevar (archbishop of Belgrade, Bishops Conference of the Saints Cyril and Methodius) Christo Proykov (apostolic exarch of Sofia, Bulgaria), Luigi Padovese (apostolic vicar of Anatolia, Turkey), Rrok Mirdita (metropolitan archbishop in Tirana-Durazzo, Albania), Nikolaos Printezis (archbishop in Náxou-Tinou, Greece), Msgr. Giuseppe Leanza (Apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria), Georgi Jovcev (bishop of Sofia and Plovdiv, Bulgaria), George Frendo (auxiliary bishop of Tirana-Durazzo, Albania) and Aldo Giordano ( Ccee Secretary General). The gatherings were also attended by members of the Orthodox Church and Islam. After the concluding remarks, a message to Benedict XVI confirmed the commitment “on a pastoral issue we consider especially important and urgent”. Opportunities and problems. Mixed marriages “are a chance for interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, but they also represent a problem”. The final statement starts from the acknowledgement of opportunities and risks, leading to the decision “to probe into the issue of pre-marital formation and the spiritual counseling of spouses”. Although these marriages “represent a reality in South East-Europe, through migration flows, they are rapidly spreading to all European Countries”. Amongst the risks identified by the prelates “as relates to marriage between Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants, despite the common grounds of Christian faith, a shared theological view on the sacredness of marriage is lacking”. When one of the spouses isn’t Christian, the risks are a “loss of faith”, “religious indifference”, or else women might be subjected to “impositions”, to “isolation from their ethnical group”, to an “identity loss” and to “a sense of confusion regarding the children’s upbringing”. Close to spouses and fiancés. The “remedy”, based on the experience of the single Countries, lies from “the formation of fiancés”, but the “decisive element” is “spiritual counseling to spouses”. “We have to form families who are also evangelizers”, explained Msgr. Aldo Giordano, Ccee Secretary, underlining the importance of “creating networks between families”, with the help of “priests trained in the pastoral care of the family”. According to Msgr. Giordano it’s also necessary “to give space to those movements and to the new communities whose charismas enhance family closeness”. It’s equally important to pay visits to those sanctuaries which offer the possibility of pilgrimage, sacrament and encounter” within a tradition where “the family is kept alive”. A handbook supplying guidance to couples and pastoral workers will be made available in case of mixed marriages. Its approval is scheduled for the next working session to be held in Anatolia (Turkey) on March 3-8 2009. The task of the Church. “We are living a historical moment of major challenges and existential loss, especially as relates to marriage”, pointed out the apostolic nuncio in Bulgaria, Msgr. Giuseppe Leanza, encouraging the Church “to let her voice of truth be heard”, to “act as a guide” and “encourage the families”. “Showing the entire truth of the family founded on marriage” is “our major responsibility”, reiterated the president of Bulgaria’s Bishops Conference Msgr. Christo Proykov. “The challenges of contemporary society- he added – marked by a feeling of estrangement especially in urban centres, demand that families are not left alone”. “For this reason – affirmed Msgr. Proykov – the ecclesial community has the responsibility of offering support, stimulus and spiritual nourishment in order to strengthen family cohesion, chiefly during difficult moments”.