In brief

Taizé: the youth meet Europe 40.000 youth from across Europe and other continents will convene in Brussels from December 29 to January 2, on the invitation of the Community of Taizé. After Geneva, Zaghreb, Milan, Lisbon, Hamburg, the meeting in Brussels will be the 31st European youth meeting animated by Taizé. The upcoming meeting follows the recent encounter held in Nairobi, Kenya where in November 26-30, 7000 youth from 15 African countries convened. To date, 510 youth from Portugal, 600 from Spain, 2000 from France, 1500 from Italy, 2000 Germans, 900 Lithuanians, 650 Slovenians, 9200 Poles and 300 Russians have registered for the event. 180 reception facilities will host the youth in Malines, Nivelles, Alost and Louvain. The event is co-organized by the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Churches in Belgium. “The encounter of Brussels – is written in a Note by Taizé – is the new leg of the pilgrimage of faith on earth undertaken thirty years ago by frère Roger, the founder of the Taizé Community”. “Everybody can participate in a civilization currently marked by faith. Throughout history, only few people have managed to tip the balance towards peace”, wrote frère Alois in the letter that will soon be translated into thirty different languages for the youth to read upon their arrival in Brussels. 19 encounters are planned to take place in the afternoons of December 30 and 31st that will focus on a series of different topics, from the quest for God to topical items like the financial crisis and world suffering. The encounter of Brussels envisages two meetings with the European Union. The first, “Europe, community of values, receptive community”, will be attended, among others, by the vice-President of the European Commission, Jacques Barrot. The second, on “The European Union and the Young Generations” will be attended by European Commissioner Jan Figel’ and by bishop Adrianus van Luyn, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). EU: the churches for a “greener economy” “Creating a greener economy”: the request was put forward to EU leaders by the leader of the Anglican Community, the archbishop of the Church of Sweden and by the President of the Evangelical Church in Germany. On the eve of the European summit in Brussels, Rowan Williams, Anders Rejrd and bishop Huber wrote a letter to EU Council President President Nicolas Sarkozy, asking that “climate concerns be not pushed aside to the benefit of short or medium-term solutions triggered by economic pressure”. Voicing their concern over governments’ attempt at “increasing the credit quota for carbon emissions through purchase in Developing Countries instead of decreasing their own”, the leaders of the Churches urge EU governments to hold an “approach that is more holistic to economic growth”. “It’s not a choice between economic growth and environmental protection – they remarked -. Our environmental economic fortunes are inextricably bound”. “Rather than constituting a threat, the ongoing financial crisis and the economic recession are an opportunity to create today tomorrow’s low-carbon economy”, the Church leaders concluded, referring to the package of greener economy measures announced by President-elect Barack Obama.France: good wishes for the feast of Sacrifice French bishops sent their “best wishes” to the leaders of France’s Muslim community and to Muslim faithful on December 8, the “Day of Sacrifice” – Aid el Kebir, in memory of Abraham’s submission to the will of “Allah”, who accepted to sacrifice his son Isaac -. In the message, the bishop of Créteil Msgr. Michel Santier, President of the Bishops’ Council for Interreligious Relations, highlighted Christians’ approaching festivity of Christmas, “the feast of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah”. “May this time of feasts – the bishop wrote – be the occasion to overcome prejudices and preconceived ideas that trigger misunderstandings and fear. May this time of feast promote encounters and fraternal bonds of friendship based on mutual understanding”. Anglicans: first rift over Communion The leaders of the Anglican Church of the United States and of Canada are working on the establishment of a new “Anglican Province of North America” that will bring together all those who disagreed with the decisions of the Episcopalian Church in the US and in Canada in the area of homosexuality (for information: www.united-anglicans.org). The initiative was positively welcomed by “Gafcon” (Global Anglican future) primates. The Organisation was founded in Jerusalem during last summer in polemical response to the stand of Canterbury. “We acknowledge the news – is stated in the communiqué – and we fully support this development with our prayer and blessing, since it shows Christian faithful’ determination to continue being authentic Anglicans”.