The passage to be crossed

From November 12 – 14 the autumn plenary assembly of the Commission of Bishops Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) will be held. The theme of the encounter, in which its new Secretary General, Father Piotr Mazurkiewwicz will participate for the first time, is “Present challenges in Europe.” The assembly will take place in the new offices of COMECE which will leave its present quarters in rue Stévin 42 to transfer to the Square de Meeüs 19/1. The new offices will be officially inaugurated on the occasion of the spring Plenary Assembly in March, 2009. What we are and what we want to be. “What we are and what we want to be: This is the passage that awaits us and which commits us to defining European identity without ambiguities. We must think of fulfilling a cultural project appropriate to today, to which the Catholic Church will offer its specific contributions in order that the fundamental rights of man, including religious liberty, are protected, and so that ‘the non-negotiable principles’ always illuminate political thought and action.” Father Piotr Mazurkiewicz, the new Secretary General of Comece, during his first meeting with journalist at the end of October in the offices of the Commission itself, had some clear words to say about the future of Europe. “The task of Comece – he explained, referring to the role of the ecclesiastic organism for which he is coordinating the iniziative – is to supply correct information to European Churches, regarding the activity of the institutions and to correctly refer the thought of these Churches to the institutions, thus achieving a relationship of cooperation in response to the diverse needs of citizens, while respecting the autonomy of both. For example, in the face of the present financial crisis, “the social doctrine of the Church offers precious moral and ethical guidance also for the new reflections which the European Union has begun in relation to this serious matter, regarding political, economic and ethical questions.” European thought. “Europeanization”, a word taken from the title of his doctoral thesis, is a difficult word and Father Pazurkiewicz explains it to SIR Europe in the following manner. “The term ‘europeanization’ recalls the term ‘colonialization’ which obviously is totally unacceptable. I only wish to point out a risk that should be avoided, that is, to confuse integration with homogenizing and leveling off that leads to the disappearance or marginalization of the diversities of minorities. All peoples and all persons will live in the common European home and will contribute to improving it if they will feel respected. Respect for the other is the foundation of an authentically united Europe. It is therefore necessary to reach an agreement regarding cultural identity which, no doubt, refutes both skepticism and superficial, ineffective optimism. The European cultural project to which I ams referring represents a path of intellect and faith which the Catholic Church is called to follow and to propose in harmony with the Word of God and Catholic teaching. It is an itinerary of hope that Catholics are living in their different countries and which they also propose to Europe, in serious and honest dialogue with all those who, of different cultures, Christian confessions and religions, are searching for the truth. And it is precisely the truth about God and man that our Christian roots call forth vigorously asking Catholics to supply extra thought and presence on the European road. It is a project to be defined and made efficient; it is the passage that must be accomplished for the good of Europe.” From Warsaw to Brussels. Father Piotr Mazurkiewicz was elected on September 9, 2008 by the bishop members of the Comece and in agreement with the Vatican, for a term of three years. Father Mazurkiewicz – of Polish nationality – succeeds msgr. Noël Treanor, ordinary bishop of Down & Connor (northern Ireland) last June 9 and took up office on October 1. Msgr. Adrianus van Luyn, Bishop of Rotterdam and President of Comece, greeted the naming of Father Mazurkiewicz “as a sign of hope for the Church in Europe”. Born in 1960, the new Secretary General of Comece is a priest of the Archdiocese of Warsaw where he directs the Institute of Political Science at the Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University. He is specialized in European issues, political philosophy and the Social Doctrine of the Church. In 2002, he presented a doctoral tesi on “The Europeanization of Europe. Cultural identity in Europe in the context of the process of integration.” Serving the Polish Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the group of Councillors on the European Union and in this capacity he has collaborated several times with Comece, also participating in the editing of a report by the European Bishops on “The shaping of the European Union and the responsibility of Catholics.”