Three values to love

"Albania must go to Europe where it naturally belongs, thus correcting the mistakes or situations of the past", wrote the bishops of the Albanian Bishops Conference (CEA) in a pastoral letter marking the 100th anniversary of the country’s independence. The document, titled "Fides et Patria", was approved at the XXVIII plenary assembly of CEA, held in Tirana from 2nd to 4th May. On May 8 the Press Office of the Bishops’ Conference released a summary of the document. "The letter – said Fr Gjergj Meta, CEA spokesperson – is addressed to Catholic faithful and to all people of good will. At the beginning of the document is underlined Catholics’ role in the process of independence, which culminated on November 28 1912, after 500 years of Ottoman occupation. The highlights of these one hundred years include the martyrdom of the Catholic Church under Communism, John Paul II’s visit in 1993, and the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, daughter of our people".Love for the family. The letter looks into three aspects of the country’s life, explaining the meaning of "love for one’s country". Firstly, it reiterates that "love for one’s country means love for one’s family, based on the marriage between a man and woman. There can be then no commitment to one’s country without commitment to one’s family". The bishops, "bearing in mind Church teaching as well as the most noble traditions of the Albanian populations", call for "the commitment of all areas of life in the Country" to convey "support of the family". Mutual love and love for the family. The document points out that "love for one’s country means love for one’s neighbour and for life". The "process of reconciliation and dialogue", Albanian bishops point out, "must be carried out within the life of the country". "Inter-religious dialogue, the quest for a common language for a better cohabitation, with a view to the European integration process", are also critical to the country’s development. "The defence of life in all its stages – the text goes on -, is the ideal basis for fighting phenomena such as abortion, euthanasia, revenge, suicide and drugs abuse". Love for conscience and for the rule of the Law. For the bishops, "love for one’s Homeland implies love for conscience and for the rule of the law". Only in this way is it possible to create "a more democratic Albania" defeating "corruption" that "impoverishes growth and the development of society, causing poverty and degradation". The bishops focus attention also on the right of conscientious objection. "While on the one side Christians are called to follow the laws adopted by legislators, on the other they have the right to conscientious objection for those laws that go against the order of nature and divinely revealed truths". The bishops’ conference also states: "the integration of Albania in the European family as a challenge for the future. Albania should tend towards Europe to which it naturally belongs, thus correcting past mistakes and situations". A thought also goes to young people, who are invited to be "responsible for their Homeland", not to "abandon it" and "work for its development", "drawing inspiration from the best virtues inherited from their fathers and also from their faith". Finally, the bishops "entrust Albania to the Mother of the Good Council, that she may protect the Country and Albanian people". ” “” “The new CEA presidency Msgr. Angelo Massafra, archbishop of Shkodër-Pult, is the new president of the Albanian Bishops’ Conference (CEA). He succeeds Msgr. Rrok Mirdita, archbishop of Tiranë-Durrës. The bishop was elected during the CEA XXVIII plenary assembly (Tirana May 2-4). Also the vice-president and secretary general were elected, respectively Msgr. Lucjan Avgustini, bishop of Sapa, and Msgr. George Frendo, auxiliary bishop of Tiranë-Durrës. During the plenary was elected also the presidency of Caritas Albania: in the posts of president and general director were reconfirmed Msgr. George Frendo, vescovo ausiliare di Tiranë-Durrës, e Albert Nikolla. "During the assembly – is written in the closing statement released by the press office on May 8 – the bishops agreed on the publication of the new Missal in Albanian. In the coming months also the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council will be published in Albanian. Other themes addressed are the inter-diocesan seminar, the draft law on education and the theme of schools’ laicity". The next CEA meeting will take place in Tirana from November 13 to 15 2012.