France, Italy

France: 86th Social Week on Democracy”Democracy, a new idea” is the title of the 86th Social Week of France scheduled to take place in Paris next November 25-28 (Parc Floral) on the initiative of the Social Weeks of France (SSF), the body chaired by Jérôme Vignon. Three days of workshops, 3500 people expected to attend meetings titled: “Thinking democracy” (Friday 25), “Living democracy” (Saturday 26) and “Full-scale democracy”. Professors, sociologists, jurists, writers, journalists, politicians and representatives of the economic and entrepreneurial worlds will animate, as by tradition, the program’s events, which this year include a panel lecture on democratic governance attended by the candidates to the 2012 presidential elections (first round on April 22, second round on May 6). The Socialist party, which supports François Hollande, and the Union for Popular Movement (UMP) led by outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy, have already confirmed their participation. They will be asked two questions: “Which democratic contract do presidential candidates want to propose to French citizens? How do they intend to rinvigorate democratic dialogue and collective responsibility in order to step up social justice?” The conclusions will be delivered by SSF president Vignon. For the program’s details log on www.ssf-fr.org. The Social Weeks of France follow those in Slovenia for the third year running, held a few weeks ago, and the first Social Weeks of Moldavia. In Slovenia was addressed the theme of public awareness of citizens’ rights, while in Moldavia the Week focused on “The courage to grow near the forlorn”. This first week in Moldavia was opened, among others, by the representatives of the other European Social Weeks, namely, Msgr. Arrigo Miglio, bishop of Ivrea, president of the Social Weeks of Italy; Jean-Pierre Rosa, delegate for the Social Weeks of France; Msgr. Giampaolo Crepaldi, bishop of Trieste, president of the Social Commission of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) “Caritas in Veritate”.Italy: card. Bagnasco on Catholics and politics”In all epochs, the Church has viewed the political realm, that has the major, difficult responsibility of promoting the common good, with trust and with respect, acknowledging such consequential commitment”, said Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, CCEE vice-president, in his opening speech for the national seminary “Good politics for the common good”, held in Todi (Perugia, Italy) on October 17, promoted by the Forum of Catholic workers and associations. “The fact that Christians decide to reflect together on society, cherishing in their hearts the human person and the criteria of the Social Doctrine of the Church – remarked the CEI president – is something everyone should rejoice about. It is the sign of a dynamic awareness and of a responsible participation in the life of the ‘city'”. Delving into the importance of believers’ commitment within and to the benefit of society, Cardinal Bagnasco declared: “While social absenteeism is possible for nobody, for Christians it a sin of omission, in fact, ‘Thus the deep sense of social presence of the Church is derived from the Eucharist – writes Benedict XVI – as evidenced by the great social saints, who have always been great Eucharistic souls.'” For the prelate, “with this universal patrimony” the Christian community “is called to animate pre-political sectors that promote intellectual development and skills”. Religion “is not a problem for modern society. On the contrary, religion is a resource and a guarantee. The Church does not seek privileges, nor does she want to intervene in areas that are alien to her mission. Instead, the Church must be free to practice her mission”. “Christian faithful – His Eminence continued – have always been a living presence in history, in the awareness that the faith in Christ, with its anthropological, ethical and social implications, benefits also urban areas”. For this “in civil society Christian faithful have become a critical mass, endowed with vision and capable of creating virtuous networks that contribute to the common good, which is made up of the ‘earth’ and the ‘skies’ without jeopardizing “State laicity”. According to the CEI president “the principle of laicity understood as ‘the autonomy of the civil and political spheres from the religious and ecclesial – but not from the moral – sphere is an added value that is recognized by the Church and which belongs to the patrimony of civilization”. Cardinal Bagnasco delivered a reflection on the “inviolable, inborn values (John Paul II ‘Evangelium vitae’)”, which he described as “inalienable not because they cannot to be discussed, but because, in doing so and in legislating, they cannot be attacked given their inviolable, nonnegotiable and undividable nature”.