Religion in schools: State supportThe Romanian-Catholic archdiocese of Bucharest recently wrote an open letter to the Minister of Education conveying its intention “to remain an active partner of the State for the education of the young generations”. The archdiocese stressed that religion must continue being taught at all educational levels, from primary school to post-high-school studies and presented proposals as relates to teaching religious education. Constutional law envisaging religion class attendance of minority religion pupils “on the basis of their confession”; including religion in the subjects for the “final high-school exams” are some of the ten proposals drawn up in the Letter. Furthermore, the archdiocese reiterated that the Church “can give a concrete support to the State in the formation of the young generations according to Christian values”. In the framework of the debate on education, the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate voiced its concern over the possibility of excluding religion in high-school programs in a communiqué. The Patriarchate pointed out that the teaching of religion, provided for in the constitutional law after the 1989 revolution, “is an act of justice and of moral reparation for the abuses committed in this area by the atheist Communist regime”.Education: the letter of Patriarch Daniel The Primate of Romania’s Orthodox Church, Patriarch Daniel, imparted his blessing to students, teachers and parents in a message issued for the beginning of the new school year, which opened in Romania on September 14. Accordingly, the Patriarch wished the entire educational community “to cultivate human dignity and fraternal communion in a society marked by secularization and individualism”. In the letter Patriarch Daniel mentioned the economic crisis that “has negative effects upon the families and educational realms”, and voiced his concern over “school dropouts in poor families and where one of the parents left to work in a foreign Country”. The Church is engaged in preventing school dropouts with numerous projects, the Patriarch wrote, and “she is equally engaged in accounting for the lack of parent and family affection”. On behalf of the entire Orthodox Church the Patriarch urges teachers and parents “to engage in ongoing cooperation in the spirit of fraternal communion and practical solidarity”. “The Christian family is the most precious place to cultivate conjugal, paternal, filial and brotherly love”, the Patriarch stated. While a family without love and communion can “have tragic consequences on children”.Solidarity: Caritas, “a model of good practices””For our Elderly – NGO Services to Senior Citizens” is the theme of the meeting held last week in the city of Iasi, located in the Northeastern region of Romania. Local authorities and NGO representatives involved in offering social and health care services to unaccompanied senior citizens attended the meeting, promoted by the “Principesa Margareta a Romaniei” foundation in conjunction with Caritas Diocesan Centre and the Solidarity and Hope Foundation. The Diocesan Caritas of Iasi was proposed – along with 10 institutions from across the Country – “as a model of good practices for home assistance to old people”. The meeting lies within the framework of a national public-awareness campaign regarding the needs of this vulnerable social bracket. According to a report drawn up by the “Principesa Margareta a Romaniei” foundation, only 30% of those over age 75 depend on their families, while the remaining 70% need community support. Under the patronage of the Foundation in the period October 2009 – October 2010, 1500 of them will be the recipients of the “Beautiful old-age” project, the first national fund-raising campaign for assistance to senior citizens. “Interaction and cross-generational dialogue are the basic requirements for the establishment of a strong community”, claimed the Foundation’s director general Mario Demezzo.
