Portugal: a Note “in support of true marriage” With a pastoral note by the permanent council titled “Em favor do verdadeiro casamento” (in support of true marriage), anticipated by SIR Europe (cf. n. 11 of February 13), Portugal’s Bishops’ Conference reiterated its ‘no’ to all attempts aimed at “equating same-sex unions to the marriage based on the love between man and woman”. The family founded on marriage – state the bishops in the Note whose text was discussed in the General Assembly held in Fatima a few days ago – ought to be granted its unique, incomparable and unmistakable identity. And it must not be confused with other forms of cohabitation”. According to the CEP, if marriage or adoption to homosexual couples were to be regulated by the law, this would “seriously alter the anthropological bases of the family and of society as a whole, jeopardizing its very existence”. The matter at stake is thus “complementing the two genders” with “alternative forms” of marriage and the family “that would upset adolescents and the youth”. In the document the bishops describe homosexuality as “revealing the existence of personal identity problems”, while rejecting “all forms of discrimination or marginalization of homosexuals” who ought to be granted fraternal reception and be helped overcome difficulties that in many cases cause much suffering”. Any State initiative that envisages the granting of rights to a group of people that are drawn together by feelings of friendship and mutual help, remarked CEP secretary Father Manuel Morujão, “will need to be viewed within a legal framework that is distinct from that of marriage and the family”. Germany: Misereor, “safeguarding the Creation”A campaign informing on the risks caused by climate changes will raise public awareness on the consequences of rich countries’ lifestyle and on South world poverty. The charity organisation Miseror decided to launch the campaign with the slogan “safeguarding the Creation of God so that everyone lives”. “God has entrusted the Creation to us, we are thus called to live it responsibly”, declared Msgr. Werner Thissen, archbishop of Hamburg and Miseror representative for Germany’s Bishops’ Conference in an interview with Catholic news agency KNA. “If we wish to protect the Creation we must change our life also in the realm of climate protection”. “The North and the rich South of the world have greater means to protect themselves from climate changes as compared to the poor”, Thissen remarked. “The consequences of climate changes have led farmers to leave rural areas and migrate to urban areas. While the need of energy of North-world countries triggers a rise in oil prices and decreases reserves of fuel. This is why an increasing amount of arable land and agrarian products, such as sugar beet, soy, palm oil and maize are being employed for the production of biofuels. This leads to foodstuff price increase with heavy consequences on the poor”, he explained. The Archbishop pointed out that each person is called to reconsider his lifestyle, and Lent is the best period for this”. This is true also for the Church: “Misereor went very far: it promoted the use of recycled paper for printing, the decrease in energy consumption and recently also roof installations of solar panels. These are small but important steps”. Politics – Thissen declared – ought “to establish the general conditions” to fulfil the containment of energy consumption. Another delicate issue is atomic energy. “The obtainment of uranium requires high energy consumption. Despite nuclear plants’ energy production doesn’t cause the emission of carbon dioxide, nuclear energy entails other serious risks”. Therefore, “there are no alternatives to decreasing energy consumption”.Spain: the X “Noche y arte en oracion” in Madrid A place for art and prayer, a spiritual retreat, meetings and forums on Christian art and the Gospel, a round table on the prophecy of unity and of the Kingdom, exhibitions of artists along with the stalls of congregations, parishes, communities, and religious movements; ecumenical meetings, a concert for unity and a donations desk: these elements will enrich the tenth edition of NAO (Noche y arte en oracion, night and art in prayer), to be held in Madrid March 6-8 with the title “I do everything anew”. The event is organized by “Brotes de Olivo y Pueblo de Dios”, in cooperation with groups, movements and ecclesial associations. The vigil will be held in the Holy Family College, the night of March 7, but the previous days will be devoted to reflection, prayer and silence meditating on the Word of God in the parish church of Saint Theresa and Saint Joseph (Carmelitan nuns of Madrid). Exhibition areas will displays photos, poems, paintings, sculptures and books along with the stands of associations, groups, movements, religious congregations, communities, lay institutes, parish and diocesan projects.
