Albania, France, Romania

Albania: the bishops’ note on the May 8 electionsThe Catholic Bishops of Albania released a Letter addressed to the citizens of the Republic of Albania called to the polls for the administrative elections of May 8. “The greatest advantage of a democratic society – states the document – is the fact that citizens’ voices and wishes can be expressed in the ballot boxes. Democracy grants citizens the possibility not only of choosing those by whom they wish to be governed. It also enables them to ‘control their leadership’, as John Paul II said, and replace them, with peaceful means, when deemed necessary’. Also the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church reminds citizens that voting is a right and a duty for the common good”. For the bishops we must express our appreciation and gratitude to all those who with justice and uprightness are engaged in the political realm, bearing in mind the good of the people by whom they were elected to govern the country”. The bishops thus invite all citizens “to show their maturity during the electoral campaign by shunning all forms of violence, and to make the best use of their vote for the benefit of the common good”. The bishops appealed to all those “elected mayors in municipal town councils” to “fight against all forms of corruption”, and “to remember that in their capacities they stand as models of justice and transparency”, “which entails supporting and helping the poor, the forlorn, the marginalized, the unemployed, to the benefit of a more dignified life”. The note ends with “good Easter wishes”: “May this feast bring new hope, illuminated by the light of Christ, victorious over death, so that we may build together a civilization of peace and fraternity”.France: minister Guéant on laicityOn April 15 French Interior Minister, Claude Guéant received the leaders of the main religions in France. Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, President of the Bishops’ Conference, attended as representative of French Catholics. The meeting ensues the polemics deriving from the conference on Laicity and Islam in France organized by UMP majority party. French religious leaders – including Christian, Muslim and Jewish representatives – issued a long statement claiming: “Laicity is the pillar of our republican deal, a founding trait of our democracy, representing our wish to live together. Let’s not waste this precious conquest”. The meeting with the Minister of Interior focused on a set of initiatives aimed at creating “a peaceful and serene atmosphere” in Church-State relations. These initiatives include the creation of an “intra-ministerial working group” with the contribution of religious leaders “so as to clarify the conditions for the implementation of public authorities’ neutrality principle” and propose appropriate legislative measures. In the joint statement religious leaders warned: “The acceleration of political agendas on the eve of important elections for the future of our Country risks blurring interpretations and triggering discriminating confusion”. Religious leaders recalled the “1905 Law” which all faiths comply with unreservedly. The faith leaders recalled the numerous meetings and seminars which have addressed the question of laicity in recent years. “The duty of those holding positions of responsibility is to enlighten the way and develop solutions for the common good. Let us not add more confusion to the difficult times we are experiencing. Let us combat together for a laicity of good intelligence”.Romania: discovery of Transylvania’s oldest churchRestoration work near the Catholic Cathedral of Alba Iulia (in the middle-western part of Romania) led to the discovery of the remains of the semicircular apse of a medieval church. Archaeologists believe this is Transylvania’s oldest church, built around the year 1000, before the schism between the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Rome. The remains were found at a depth of only one metre, 24 metres away from the Catholic Cathedral of St. Michael. Daniela Marcu Istrate, well-known archaeologist in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, said in a press conference that the discovered church might have been built either by prince Gyula or by Saint King Stephen. Besides the apse, archaeologists have also discovered 43 tombs dating back to the 12th century. However, experts believe that the church was already destroyed at that time. For the moment, work at the archaeological site has been suspended for lack of funds and technical means. The remains of the apse will be preserved provisionally.