(from our correspondent) – In Europe, "the social pact on which the family drew its strength has been undermined by the rampancy of some aspects of economy and the attendant political choices: this was stated by mgr. Giovanni Giudici, bishop of Pavia, as he gave to SIR a preview of some of the contents of his speech on "the culture of life and family" which he is going to give in the next few days at the workshop on "Slavery and new slavery", which is under way until November 18th in Cape Coast, the Ghana, organised by the Council of European Bishops Conferences (Ccce) and by the Symposium of African and Madagascan Bishops Conferences (Secam). Such aspects of economy and political choices as "productivity and the new organisation of work explains mgr. Giudici, who is also a member of the Commission of the Italian Bishops Conference for the encounter with the Churches , involve inflexible and limiting working hours, the daily scattering of the family members, smaller houses, the transfer of individuals and populations in search of work". In this scenario, some aspects "have also affected the way of thinking and acting of the European populations": "the emphasis placed on the value of the individual and on self-accomplishment; the emphasis placed on the emotional aspect of the person, considered the source of needs that cannot be either questioned or postponed". (continued)
