CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
Environment: mobilization “ecumenical”An invitation to the whole international community to take note of the “ecologic crisis” of our planet: it was made by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, in his message on the occasion of the World Environment Day, which has been celebrated every year on 5th June since 1972, to sensitize the public opinion on the environmental question worldwide, and to draw the attention of the political world. “Today, more than ever before – wrote the Patriarch – there is an undisputable obligation: being aware that environmental issues are not just the romantic ideals of few people. The ecologic crisis, and in particular, real climate change are a major threat for every kind of life on our planet. Moreover, there is a close relationship between environment protection and the expressions of social and economic life”. Patriarch Bartholomew is worried about the current condition of our planet; in his opinion, “pursuant to the theological understanding of the Orthodox Christian Church, “abusing environment and destroying it is a sacrilege, a sinful act; it is contempt for the work of God creator”. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, too, head of the Anglican Communion, exhorted Anglican Churches to pray for the planet Sunday, 7th June. The message of the archbishop is addressed to the meeting of the heads of state, which is taking place in Copenhagen in December. The meeting will be focussed on the Kyoto agreement on global reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. “Governments need to know – wrote Williams – that there are people asking them to be ambitious. They need to have mandates. What can we do?”. The archbishop pointed out two “operational” paths to the Churches. The first one is that of praying in the awareness that the environmental question “is also a matter of justice”. “Therefore, we may pray for a real sense of responsibility and justice to lead the hearts and the minds of the politicians who are going to meet in Copenhagen (and let them think of the generations following us, too)”. The other path to be followed is “mobilization”, including campaigns of sensitization and lobbying actions on the governments taking part in the summit. Several initiatives in favour of the World Environment Day were promoted at the English Anglican dioceses in these days.CEC: youth meeting in LyonYoung delegates to the 13th Assembly of European Churches (CEC), due to be held in the Congress centre of Lyon July 15-21, met in Lyon, France, May 29 – June 2. The youth arrived from across Europe belong to the various CEC Churches. The meeting has given them the opportunity of getting to know each other and sharing the same experiences. The event consisted in panel meetings, workshops and communal prayers. Colin Williams and Smaranda Dochia, respectively Secretary General and CEC Secretary, presented to the youth the finalities of the Conference of European Churches along with the details of the forthcoming Assembly, the working programme and agenda. Participants staged a trial- Assembly session and voting procedure. The youth then addressed the theme of the Assembly “Called to Hope in Christ”, and the future developments of the ecumenical movement that will be the theme of Lyon’s meeting. The youth submitted proposals aimed at increasing their visibility in the Assembly and to encourage the Churches to involve the youth in the forthcoming ecumenical activities. Belarus: Cardinal Barbarin from Filaret A delegation of the Catholic Church in France, led by the archbishop of Lyon, Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, will pay a visit to Minsk, Belarus, June 7-10 2009 on the invitation of bishop Filaret, orthodox Metropolitan bishop of Minsk and Sluck and Exarch of All Belarus. His Eminence will be received by Catholic Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mahilyow. On June 8 at the Institute of Theology of Belarus’ State University, Cardinal Barbarin will be conferred a PHD Honoris Causa and will deliver a “lectio magistralis” for students and academics. The visit of the French delegation in the capital of Belarus takes place under the auspices of the Commissioner for Religious affairs and nationality at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus and of the Embassy of France in Belarus. In the meantime Belarus’ president Alexander Lukashenko denied the news reporting that he would act as mediator between Russian Patriarch Kirill and Pope Benedict XVI in view of a meeting. “I only said that I would be happy if His Holiness and Patriarch Kirill met in Belarus. ‘God’s help will make this happen’, the Pope replied. And this is all”.
