Portugal, Ireland, Belgium

Portugal: the bishops on the political crisisThe President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Jorge Ortiga of Braga, said he was “concerned by the lack of political stability in the country”, and on 24 March appealed for “greater transparency and clarification of the economic situation”. The archbishop spoke just a few hours before Prime Minister José Socrates submitted his resignation to the President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, after the Portuguese Parliament had voted to reject the measures contained in the new Stability and Growth Programme, the so-called Pec4. The President of the Portuguese episcopate questioned the real improvement of the Programmes previously approved, from which “only the sacrifices of the Portuguese people, and in particular those of the less well-to-do clearly emerged”. Over the past few days other bishops have expressed their views on the Portuguese situation: the Bishop of Guarda, Mgr. Manuel Felício said he was “sorry to see a country so inert”, and appealed to the parties to abandon particular interests: “What’s needed is a participative democracy, a common project round which everyone can rally, and in which the great capital on which to build the future is that of the people, and not that of the banks”. Much the same view has been taken by Mgr. António Vitalino, Bishop of Beja: “When there’s no confidence in a government, it’s essential to change the economic and social strategies: one measure has been presented after the other without clarifying the aims of the investments and without presenting any audit of the results obtained: politicians must conduct themselves with less demagogy and with more clarity. They must demonstrate that the national interest represents their major priority”. In view of the probable recourse to early elections, a communiqué issued by the President of the Republic announces that on “the 25 March, the parties represented in Parliament will be received” for consultations, but that the “government will remain in office and continue to discharge its duties until its resignation has been accepted”.Ireland: clarification on the Maynooth seminaryReports in the media, suggesting that Saint Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Ireland’s national seminary may close, “are without foundation”. So said Monsignor Hugh Connolly, President of the College, on 23 March, replying to some “incorrect media reports” on the previous day. “There are 72 men studying for the priesthood, making us the largest seminary on these islands and one of the largest in Europe”, explained Mgr. Connolly. “Media reports about the possible closure of the seminary are without foundation”. He further said that “the media outlet leading with this incorrect story” had been sent a rebuttal on 22 March, and that the absence of this denial from the published copy “is disappointing and damaging”. “Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth – he added – is a vibrant centre of seminary foundation and theological research. In addition to our 72 student priests, we provide academic formation for an increasing number of non-resident seminarians from religious orders, and for 366 lay students”. “Maynooth – Monsignor Connolly concluded – is confident of its contribution to the future of the Church in Ireland. The Apostolic Visitation to the seminary was a positive and affirming experience for the whole College community. It generated a spirit of hope and enthusiasm which will no doubt play a significant part in the renewal of the Church in our country”. St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, is the National Seminary for Ireland and has been training men for the priesthood since 1795. Its Trustees are the four Archbishops of Ireland together with 13 other senior bishops. The College comprises the seminary and the Pontifical University, which offers degrees in theology, philosophy as well as theology and arts.Belgium: verdict on Operation “Chalice” expected soonThe Court of Cassation of Belgium – the highest appeal court – will in the days ahead issue its own ruling on the validity of the search warrants conducted on the premises of the archdiocesan curia of Malines-Bruxelles, in the Cathedral of Malines and in the residence of Cardinal Godfried Danneels on 24 June 2010. In the framework of Operation “Chalice” and its judicial repercussions, “a new episode will be written on 5 April, on the occasion of the Court of Cassation’s examination of the appeal lodged by Cardinal Danneels’ lawyer”, explains a statement published on the website of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference. At the end of December last, recalls the statement, the Court of Appeal of Brussels “had rejected the challenge of Judge De Troy and the annulment of the search warrants in the archdiocesan curia of Malines-Bruxelles and in the residence of Cardinal Danneels” presented by the Cardinal himself, who had then decided to bring the matter before the country’s highest court of appeal. In January this latter had rejected the appeal regarding the challenge. Now it will examine the request for the annulment of the search warrants”. So far only the searches carried out in the premises of the Adriaenssens Commission at Louvain have been declared null and void; the 475 dossiers removed will soon be restored to the victims.