In the heart of a Country

The Polish Episcopate made known its full support to an initiative promoted by civil society aimed at introducing a total ban on abortion. Already in mid-May the Council for the Family of the Polish Bishops’ Conference underlined: “It’s very pregnant to introduce a total ban on in vitro fertilization, as we are increasingly aware of its risks”. In a statement released a few days ago Msgr. Jozef Michalik, President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP) and Msgr. Kazimierz Gorny, President of KEP’s Council for the Family, pointed out: “Alongside with the forthcoming parliamentary debate on the bill for the defense of life from the moment of conception – which over six hundred citizens endorsed with their signatures – we must encourage all the faithful, especially Catholic movements and organizations, to pray that MPs and Senators may vote according to the Divine Law so as to protect the life of defenceless human beings”.The draft bill and the defense of life. The bill is scheduled for debate next June 28. To this regard, a group of MPs joined an ad hoc Parliamentary Group set up by life defenders from various political fringes that calls for the rejection of the draft bill, although the debate might go on until the date of parliamentary elections, scheduled to take place between October and November 2011. During the month of May in cities across Poland were organized numerous “Marches for Life” spontaneously attended by thousands of citizens as a token of gratitude for the beatification of John Paul II and at the same time to bear witness to the validity of his Magisterium. “With this march we want to show that life is beautiful and worth being lived, from the moment of conception to its natural termination”, claimed an organizer of the March in Kielce, where the initiative was promoted for the first time. Fifteen thousand people took part in the 9th March for Life in Stettino. In the Homily that closed the event the Archbishop of Stettino, Msgr. Andrzej Dziega, underlined: “For 50 years the national law that should have been to the service of man has provided for the scot-free murder of innocent ones. That hecatomb is a deep wound inflicted to two generations of Polish people by other Poles”. The upcoming Polish presidency. The Polish Episcopate demands that religious freedom and support to the families become the key themes of the EU Council’s Polish Presidency of next July 1st. During the meeting of the mixed Committee of government and episcopate dignitaries held past June 15 the bishops reminded government authorities of the commitment of the European Year of the Family 2012. Msgr. Slawoj Leszek Glodz, ecclesial co-chair of the mixed Committee (set up in 1949 to resolve controversies between the Polish Bishops’ Conferences and national authority representatives, reinstated with Solidarnosc in 1980) underlined the importance of the defense of religious freedom in Europe and worldwide, along with the urgent need for policies in favour of the family, also in the face of demographic forecasts in Europe. A vision for Europe. Participants in the activity of the mixed committee include Msgr. Stanislaw Gadecki who conveyed the outcomes of the Hungarian presidency and underlined that the Polish presidency marks an important stage in the development of the United Nations of Europe. The prelate remarked that the Church would appreciate greater revalorization of the Magisterium of John Paul II under the Polish presidency. “Today a difference vision of Europe prevails, which is different from that of its founding fathers”, remarked Msgr. Gadecki and denounced “an understanding of Europe according to purely economic and financial terms, based on the a-critical acceptance of consumeristic lifestyle”. The prelate, in the awareness that “it is necessary to take stock of reality”, underlined that “new European unity should equally be built on the spiritual values on which it was shaped, in recognition of the richness, cultural diversity and traditions of its nations “. “The Gospel, shared by all European peoples, represents everyone’s long-lasting foundation”, he pointed out. Referring to the Polish Presidency he added: “A watery form of Christianity isn’t enough to astound Europe. There is the need for true Christianity, since today the risk is to betray Europe’s very soul. The dictatorship of relativism and the culture of death are being promoted to the extent that they appear to be omnipresent, while Christianity is increasingly relegated to the private sphere”.