Germany: persecutions against Christians ignoredThe indifference of German public opinion towards persecutions of Christians in countries outside Europe has been bitterly criticized by Hans Joachim Meyer, chairman of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK). During a recent meeting of the ZDK executive committee in Bonn, Meyer referred to the situation in the federal State of Orissa in north-east India, where over 100 Christians have been killed by Hindu nationalists and over 60,000 forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in the forests. “The Indian central government has condemned what has happened in Orissa but has refused to take any effective provisions” to put a stop to the persecution, said Meyer. He added that “the attacks on Christians and on ecclesiastical institutions express contempt for the constitutional guarantees of the Republic of India”. To this is added the attitude of German public opinion that “is practically ignoring these crimes”: “Evidently many of our fellow-citizens consider it an act of tolerance to ignore the wave of discrimination and persecution against Christians in many countries in the world. At most they take a stand only in cases in which it seems to be just one episode among many others, so as not to give the impression of showing solidarity in any way with Christians”, he added. Meyer cited in this regard the example of the persecution of Christians in Iraq, “where the provisions of aid to persecuted and expelled Christians have been sabotaged, despite the fact that the persecutions and killings have continued”. “Unfortunately”, he concluded, “many people in politics and in the media are still particularly proud of their attitude of indifference to the sufferings of Christians. I think this attitude by wide sections of public opinion in Germany is shameful”. Ireland: 2nd year of the “pilgrimage of grandparents”Over 7,000 participated in the second pilgrimage of grandparents to the basilica of the sanctuary of Knock, in County Mayo, in West Ireland on Sunday 14 September. The initiative, held for the first time last year and suggested by a grandmother, Catherine Wiley, continues to be a great success and fits well into the year that the Irish Catholic Church has decided to dedicate to the theme of vocation. And it was just the vocation of being grandparents that was the guiding theme of this year’s pilgrimage, which began with the blessing of the sick at 14.30, followed by Mass during which the Bishop of Killala, the Most Rev. John Fleming spoke of the unique role of grandparents within the family as “story tellers” who ensure the continuity of the Christian message. It’s a message, said the bishop, “that risks being forgotten in the Irish Catholic Church today and no longer being handed down to the young with the result that we lose hope and the strength of resisting”. “It is you who know the past from whence we come and the Christian faith we have inherited”, Bishop Fleming told grandparents. The bishop concluded his homily by reading out the prayer that Benedict XVI has written specially for this pilgrimage: “Mary, mother of all the living, continue to protect grandparents and to accompany them in their earthly pilgrimage and, with your prayers, grant that all families may one day be reunited in your country, heaven where you await all humanity for the great embrace with life without end”. The pilgrimage was also enlivened by a song dedicated to grandparents written by the priest and singer-songwriter Liam Lawton and by the music of three local choirs.Austria: communicating faithThe communication of faith is at the centre of pastoral activity in the diocese of Linz in the new year, underlined the Most Rev. Ludwig Schwarz, bishop of the diocese, during a presentation of the diocesan pastoral programme held in Linz in recent days. “The main Christian messages must always be actively formulated, presented and communicated ex novo“, insisted Bishop Schwarz. He also declared: “we want to stimulate and intensify the communication of the faith at various levels”. The programme of communicating the faith is primarily addressed at diocesan helpers, over 50,000 of them in Upper Austria. “We wish to strengthen the personal faith of those actively engaged in the Church and in their particular fields of activity”, explained the bishop, adding that “it’s a question of forging and experiencing a communion based on dialogue”. The programme is being coordinated by Ferdinand Kaineder, director of the diocesan office of communication. “Today so many things, even faith, are being put into question. We consider this an occasion to speak anew of the central aspirations of the Christian faith in the Catholic Church”, pointing out “the treasures of the Church for our own staff, as also for all those in search” of faith.
