Giving hope to Europe

The economic crisis and the ensuing social turmoil are far from being solved. Employment, surging poverty in spite of conscience-awareness campaigns, globalization without solidarity, consistent migration flows – which in Europe especially are linked to a demographic winter and to the ongoing crisis – remain unanswered questions. However, it must be said that the cause of the crisis – and its solution – ought to be sought at individual and societal level, and not only repose on ideas, politics or the economy. What can be done and how can these problems be faced? Fundamental family values are undergoing an even worse crisis. The mere definition of family – a social unit and a community of life and love based on the marriage between man and woman who are united forever opening their love to the children they will raise – is under constant threat. Divorce is encouraged, contraception is being spread thus reducing the number of newborn. In some cases abortion is even understood as a right. Furthermore, the evident physical and psychological complementariness of man and woman is being denied, while the possibility of same-sex marriage is being upheld. What can be done and how can we address this major crisis? In our relationship with nature and planet Earth with all of its creatures, that was entrusted to us to take care of, and given the yearning for profit at all costs, we are called to protect the Creation. If we’re worried about our well-being, if we aspire to integral human development and are concerned about other people – the poor in particular -. If we’re concerned about the well-being of the next generation, without focusing only on the possible causes of climate change, however important they may be, we must find a relationship with nature in compliance with the indications of John Paul II and Benedict XVI regarding human ecology, namely, consuming must take place in harmony with God’s plan. Given the failures of the International Copenhagen Conference, the environmental question is evidently linked to the political and ethical crisis. What can be done to overcome this crisis? This year’s ethical crisis was under everyone’s eyes to see, highlighted by the many cases of paedophilia. The Catholic Church never promised that all priests were saints, but it’s nonetheless painful to see that those who were gifted with a vocation of love from God could be capable of so much violence. This phenomenon is naturally not spread across the entire Church. In fact, thanks God only a very small part of the Church is involved. It is a fact that paedophilia has unfortunately become very widespread and that abuses by priests represent a small minority of the whole. Today there is increasing awareness that the scars of the abused child remain an open wound and it is evident that the child’s protection must be a priority. However, it must equally be said that a number of allegations were ungrounded. In the accounts of the violences, whilst just emphasis is placed on the protection of the child, there is also a deliberate intention to unjustly accuse the Church as a whole and spread the idea that all priests commit evil deeds. How can we overcome the crisis, eliminate paedophilia once and for all, and how can we respond to the slanderous accusations against the Church? The list of problems could be even longer. CCEE (the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences) which extends its action across all of Europe (from the Urals to the Atlantic), does not pretend to solve the problems, but it undoubtedly represents an observatory on current events and its initiatives are aimed at addressing the most urgent issues. Indeed, if Europeans’ lifestyle shouldn’t change, if the true values like the love for the truth, family faithfulness, the honour of one’s word, generosity and engagement in the forthcoming economic, demographic, environmental, social, family – notably ethical – crises, failed to be recovered and developed, the crisis will remain unsolved. And instead of diminishing it will get worse and worse. The Church believes that only a true openness to God and the personal encounter with Jesus Christ will give hope to Europe, bringing about a change in the current situation. With the encyclical Caritas in Veritate, with the celebrations of the Year for Priests, with the supportive and determined words of the Pope and of the bishops on the scandal of paedophilia, with the countless initiatives for the defence of the family, and notably through numerous personal encounters with parish congregations, associations and movements, the Church wishes to highlight the urgent need of the encounter with God, overcoming the dualism between faith and life. The New Evangelization, that calls us to renew the encounter with Jesus Christ, is a major source of hope. The new Pontifical Council set up by the Holy Father for this purpose is a formidable sign which confirms that the Church doesn’t desist, since she is guided by the Holy Spirit and is full of hope.