Switzerland: “no” to pre-implant diagnosis A “no” to pre-implant diagnostics was said by the Commission for Bioethics of the Swiss Bishops Conference (Ces). In a release dated May 20th, the Commission rejected a bill of law of the Federal Council on the prenatal diagnostic procedure, which they defined as an “alarming sign for all society”. Under that bill of law, pre-implant diagnostics should only be limited to “serious diseases”: “but, just because of such indication, stigma would be attached to disabled people, as if their lives were not worth living”, commented the bishops. The Commission defines the bill of law as “an impossible attempt at squaring the circle”, because “on one side they would like to protect the dignity of the person, which is guaranteed by the federal constitution, and on the other side such dignity is seriously violated by the ethically-unacceptable judgement of value on ‘healthy’ and ‘sick’ embryos, which is expressed by pre-implant diagnostics”. “The bishops appreciate the sufferings and fears of those couples who know they could transmit serious genetic diseases. Society must give them sympathy and technological research, but sufferings do not warrant any technical procedure. Pre-implant diagnostics is a eugenic selection procedure”.England: Msgr. Nichols enters WestminsterThe need for faith in God to give meaning to life and reach happiness, the community dimension of faith, and complementariness of faith and reason: those were the three subjects of the homily hinging on the figure of St. Paul, held by the new Archbishop of Westminster, Msgr. Vincent Nichols, at the Cathedral of Westminster (London), during the Mass for his investiture (May 21st). The new archbishop spoke about the community dimension of faith, pointing out its “public aspect and the need for society to respect it”. Msgr. Nichols actually said that “faith is never a solitary activity, and it cannot be just private. Faith in Christ leads us to a community beyond ethical, cultural and social differences, and has a public dimension”. The new archbishop recalled that “as society, if we want to build on this faith gift, we must respect its exterior expression, not only by honouring the individual conscience, but also by respecting the institutional integrity of communities, so far as they pay their contributions to public service and common good”. Only if Christians can express their faith in a community and thus public dimension, “individuals, families and faith communities will pay their contributions to building up the society we wish”.Msgr. Nichols recalled that today a few people believe that “faith and reason are opposite; they say that strong faith replaces reason, but this point of view inhibits search for truth and the opportunity of real dialogue. Respectful dialogue is crucial today. Media play an important role – he concluded – in promoting dialogue instead of conflict; however, in this field, Churches have to learn a lot, too”. The eleventh archbishop of Westminster and Primate of England and Wales took office today, during a celebration broadcast live by Channel Two of BBC. Many personalities took part in the celebration: representatives of Prince Charles, of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, of the Duke of Norfolk, outgoing Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Irish Primate Card. Sean Brady, Card. Keith O’Brien, leader of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference, Anglican Primate Rowan Williams, 50 Catholic bishops, over 500 priests from the diocese of Westminster, and two thousand guests. During the Mass, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams greeted Msgr. Nichols as new co-president of the ecumenical organization “Churches together in Britain and Ireland”, recalling the important collaboration between Catholic Church and Anglican Church.Ireland: drawing the youth towards the Church The archdiocese of Dublin, the most important in all Ireland, gave life to the “Catholic Youth Care”, (CYC), that will seek to draw young Catholics close to the Church. The CYC has recently set up a pastoral plan envisaging formation to youth groups who will preach the Gospel to their peers aged over 18, with initiatives like pilgrimages and group activity. The Centre launched a seminar attended by the missionaries of “Net Ministries”, an organization that uses the Internet to spread the Word of the Gospel. “The preparation courses to Baptism for young parents who return to the parish are important occasions to meet young Catholics that drifted away from the Church”, father Jim Caffrey, chairman of Catholic Youth Care told the weekly “Irish Catholic”. A few weeks ago the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin declared that the Church doesn’t do enough to reach out to the youth. “I don’t meet youth aged over fourteen, since these idealist and generous youth don’t draw close to our parishes”, the Archbishop said, pointing out that the Church’s attitude vis à vis homosexuality and suicide are two issues the youth are concerned of. A few days ago the Child Abuse Commission Report was issued in Ireland, which shattered the Country with the testimonies of 2500 victims of abuse committed by Catholic religious and in the period 1940 – 1980s. The Irish Church promptly expressed her “shame” and “sorrow” (cf SIR Europe 36/2009).
