Italy, Portugal, Ukraine

Italy: the laity in society and in politicsThe formation of "Adults, mature in faith and witnesses of humanity" will be the main theme of the next General Assembly of the Italian Bishops scheduled for May. The decision was taken by the members of the Permanent Episcopal Council (Rome 23 – 26 January). The agenda of the council meeting was dominated not least by the economic crisis, which "calls for political responsibility", and urges "the involvement of lay Christians" who "know how to become credible interpreters of the principles of the Church’s social doctrine", and who recognize the crisis of faith and the need for "a period of renewed evangelization". As for the sexual abuse of children by ordained men, the bishops, explained the general secretary of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Mgr. Mariano Crociata at the end of the meeting, "have no intention of shirking the issue, but are eager to collaborate so that the truth can be ascertained". The "guidelines" on the matter, as requested by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will be ready in time for the Assembly in May. Turning their focus to Europe, the bishops "value positively the process of unification" and observe that "naturally this process must take account of the need to strike the right balance between the process of unification" and "the matters and competences that cannot fail to respect the particular needs and characteristics of each country". The bishops also renewed their support for Catholic schools and appealed for a revival of the meaning of Sunday, which "has a civil and humanitarian as well as a religious aspect".Portugal: Catholics should visit the sick living aloneThe Portuguese Church is asking all Christians to give practical value to the celebration of the last of the seven Sacraments, the anointing of the sick, by visiting the sick who are living alone at home. To this end, the Commission of the Pastoral Care of the Sick (CNPS) has suggested to parishes that they should form groups of volunteers who would make home visits to the sick with a view to "a charitable visit that, apart from the Sacraments, would permit them to pray together, and feel the comfort of being living members of the Christian community". To coincide with World Day of the Sick (11 February), the Catholic association coordinated by Mgr. Vitor Feytor Pinto has published a pamphlet called "Rise and walk, your faith has saved you", which, in recalling the prophetic utterance of Jesus spoken to the leper, invites believers to "reflect on the positive value of illness and suffering, as elements of Christian hope, and on the importance of Anointing as Sacrament of healing". The document points out that for the sick person the order: "Rise, represents not just an invitation to collaborate in his/her own clinical recovery, but especially a suggestion to begin a process of conversion and spiritual renewal". In turn, the command, "Walk, represents an appeal for a radical change of life: from despair to hope, from discouragement to trust, from doubt to faith, from habit to Christian dedication". Lastly, the expression "your faith has saved you, reveals that spirituality and religious life are essential elements, also of a therapeutic nature, for the healing of the sick". Ukraine: changes in the law of freedom of worshipIn order to improve the effective laws in the area of inter-ethnic and inter-denominational relations, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has prepared alterations to the Law on freedom of worship and religious organizations. It was announced by the minister Mykhailo Kulyniak at the extended session of the Ministry collegium on the results of the last year’s activities and objectives for 2012. According to the minister, the new wording of the law is aimed to strengthen the legal basis of the freedom of worship. He also noted that the main objective in the area of the Church-state relations is to create favorable conditions for realization of the spiritual mission of the Church. "It is crucial that the state should clearly define its obligations with respect to the Church, the range of powers within its capacity, to make its policy towards the Church transparent and open to the public", said Mykahilo Kulyniak. Reaction of the All-Ukrainian council of Churches and religious organizations (AUCCRO) is rather careful. "Common position of the denominations in the raised question has remained unchanged: without consensus about the proposed legislative changes, the development of the new wording of the Law of Ukraine "On the Freedom of Worship and Religious Organizations" should be postponed", reads the address to the Ukrainian president passed by AUCCRO last year, considering inexpedient to make hasy alterations to the effective law in the present situation. In this regard, the Institute for religious freedom adds that religious matters have been repeatedly specified in the Ministry’s reports and other governmental documents in the section for ethnical and national policy and minorities.