Austria: “a platform for social justice” On June 8 the bishop of Linz, Msgr. Ludwig Schwarz ratified the “Platform for Justice” with the President of Upper Austria’s Chamber of Labour Johann Kalliauer. The document signed in Linz urges the respect for “the guiding principle of justice” in consideration of the global financial and economic crisis, which determined an unbalance in terms of richness also in Austria. The signatories also called for policies “which promote social cohesion, create stability for the promotion of the common good and ensure greater balance between working-hours and free-time”. “The foundations of sound living conditions of all across society must be marked by fairness and by the equal access to commodities”, is written in the statement. “If taxation yields are used for bank bailout instead of building hospitals, ensuring education and providing assistance to the elderly until the last days of their lives, then we must expect major difficulties”, said Msgr. Schwarz. “Accumulating less profits in our pockets and providing for bailouts to the expense of the community is a procedure that the Catholic Church cannot accept”, he added. In brief, the statement calls for greater fiscal equality, stepping up efforts for social security, for the fair distribution of labour, for a renewed effort to fight unemployment, for the development of social services and infrastructures”. Spain: the WYD on FacebookThere are great expectations for the World Youth Day (WYD) that will take place in Madrid in August 2011. The Spanish “JMJ” Facebook page counts more than 100 thousand members. World youth can access updated information on the web on the 26th WYD (the 11th at international level). Contacts from across the world are coordinated by 70 “volunteer-administrators” from different nationalities to answer the youth’s questions in 16 languages 24hrs running, encouraging them to attend the event in Madrid. The Page provides information on registration and volunteer work for the WYD, along with forum debates, WYD surveys and reports on initiatives at international level. To this regard, the WYD Organizing committee launched a poll to collect 365 phrases of Benedict XVI, one a day, to be posted starting a year before the beginning of the WYD. “In this moment our activity takes place on the web and on the social network platforms, that include Facebook and other social networks – said the spokesman of the Spanish Committee of the WYD Yago de la Cierva. We wish to reach out to all youth through their communication tools. Our intention is to provide the opportunity for spiritual and logistic preparation”.Romania: the visit of Latin Patriarch Sabbah”We often hear talk of the difficulties experienced by Christian communities in the Holy Land and feel the need to express our solidarity. The visit of the Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah in Romania is an opportunity to show our friendship and sympathy for the Churches in the Holy Land”. With these words Msgr. Aurel Perca, auxiliary bishop of Iasi, presents the visit begun 9 June, the first visit to Romania by a Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. A dearly awaited moment to “spread information on the Palestinian reality” and “to step up the ties created when Romanian workers, Catholic and Orthodox,” were present in large numbers in the “Holy Land”. Msgr. Perca underlines, “The great majority of Romanians weren’t given the opportunity to establish a direct contact with the population living in the Palestinian and Israeli territories”, for this reason the presence of Msgr. Michel Sabbah in Romania “is a door that is opened” unto the Holy Land. A meeting is scheduled with the Apostolic nuncio in Romania Msgr. Francisco-Javier Lozano and with the Orthodox Patriarch Daniel. The Patriarch’s participation in the ordination of 24 priests, due to take place today, June 11, in the Cathedral of Iasi, will constitute the highlight of the event. France: the people on the side of priests”Unprecedented event: 9,000 priests in Rome with Pope Benedict XVI to close the Year for Priests”: so begins a statement put out by Mgr. Bernard Podvin, spokesperson of the French Bishops’ Conference, commenting on the events that are taking place at the present time in Rome. From 9 to 11 June Rome has become, in effect, the capital of priests from all over the world to celebrate at the Pope’s side the closing of the special year dedicated to them. “They include – writes Mgr. Podvin – over 750 French priests and several bishops: a sign of the great mobilization of the Church in France. This means that current news stories have not damaged the ministry of priests in recent months! By not avoiding the serious problems [facing the Church], Benedict XVI has shown extraordinary courage, leading the faithful throughout the world in a radical interior renewal. The Year for Priests has undoubtedly encouraged communities to return to what’s essential”. Bishop Podvin recalls the many initiatives taken in the dioceses of France. And he comments: “Well beyond the sphere of practising Catholics, the population gives signs of profound attachment to its priests”.
