CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ireland: abuses, “the past won’t be forgotten” “The past will not be forgotten; there will be openness and transparency in facing the issues of abuse”. Thus declared Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor referring to sexual abuse by members of the Irish Church during a Service of Penitence held in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. The function for Penitence and Healing was attended by Cormac Murphy-O’Connor whom Benedict XVI appointed Apostolic Visitor to the Archdiocese of Armagh; Sheila Hollins, Psychiatrist, who together with Msgr Mark O’Toole, have been assisting Carinal O’Connor in the Visitation, and Cardinal Sean Brady, archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. “During these past two weeks I have heard many voices: the voices of great pain and suffering of the survivors of abuse – His Eminence said – I have also heard voices of faith and a determination to persevere in the building up of the Church in this diocese by prayer and the holy Eucharist and the Word of God and the service of others. Above all, I have listened to the voices of hope. First of all, the voice of hope that the past will not be forgotten and that there will be openness and transparency in facing the issues of abuse”. Psychiatrist Sheila Hollins also gave her contribution. “What I have heard in these last two weeks is of the suffering of so many people, people who have not been listened to, and who have not felt the Church alongside them, unconditionally loving them and helping them to rise above their pain”. “I think there is a lesson here for us”, said the expert, “that those who have experienced abuse are our essential teachers”. Germany: DBK, “celibacy, a precious gift”In a statement the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) took a stand on a proposal submitted by the CDU Christian-Democrat political party demanding that “viri probati”, men who were married before being ordained deacon, be exempted from the celibacy vow. The issue, the bishops write, “is not on the agenda of the meetings scheduled for the preparations of the Holy Father’s Visitation to Germany”. DBK underlines in the statement that “the request involves the Universal Church and it requires a reflection and a decision on the part of the entire Church”. “Celibacy is a precious gift”, the document points out, recalling that the theme was addressed on several occasions also during the consultations for the bishops’ synod in Rome. DBK thus postpones to sometimes in the future the moment when it will be possible “to reconsider the proposals drawn up in the letter along with insights to promote further priestly vocations”. The letter signed by eight CDU politicians, almost all of whom are members of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), was issued on Friday January 21. It calls for a derogation to compulsory celibacy even if only for Germany, to counter “the emergence of many communities without priests”.Spain: WYD, free travel visas to pilgrims A few days ago the Minister of the presidency Ramón Jáuregui, met with WYD and Holy See dignitaries in Madrid to discuss the government’s cooperation in organizing the Day, due to be celebrated in the Spanish capital on August 16-21. 240 000 young people from across the world have registered to date, 23 000 of whom will be arriving from non-Schengen area countries, notably Latin America and Africa. Following the criteria previously employed in other Countries during similar events, it was decided that pilgrims would be granted free travel visas. During the WYD, some 6000 officers of various polices forces will guarantee participants’ security. Seven ministries are involved in the WYD organization. These are: Foreign Affairs, Employment, Culture, Interiors, Defense, Development and Presidency. The Ministry of Defense put at the organizers’ disposal the aerodrome of Cuatro Vientos for the vigil and for the closing Mass with Benedict XVI. The ministry of Culture is studying a set of proposals aimed at drawing the youth attending the WYD close to Spain’s cultural traditions, of Madrid in particular. The meeting was held in the framework of the visit to Madrid of Alberto Gasbarri, coordinator of the Pope’s trips. The reunion was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Spain Msgr. Renzo Fratini, the cardinal archbishop of Madrid Antonio M. Rouco Varela, the WYD general coordinator Msgr. César Franco, the executive director of the Day Yago de la Cierva, and on the part of the Government, the under-secretary to the Presidency Soledad López Fernández.
