The disunity of Catholics in Europe
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- Written by Anthony Favier
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From the beginning of his pontificate in 2013, Francis called on European Catholics to oppose the "globalisation of indifference" by mobilising themselves, in particular, to help migrants. Five years after Lampedusa, has Francis' message never been so hard to hear among European Catholics? At the level of the baptized, parishes or Christian associations, a thousand acts of generosity are undoubtedly carried out. On the other hand, it has to be said that countries with a strong Catholic culture are falling one after the other into the camp of anti-immigration parties. Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Italy now, by different but converging paths, have all joined the club of countries determined to defeat the European Union's policy of reception quotas. Spain, which hosted the drifting Aquarius, and Portugal may be saving Catholic honour even if they are not on the most important migration routes. Halfway through, France is finding it difficult to get away from the moral stance. The emphasis of public speeches does not hide the difficulties of taking action.
Human Rights and Catholic Social Teaching
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- Written by Forum Européen des Comités Nationaux des Laïcs
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On the occassion of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the European Laity Forum made up of 18 countries met in Lisbon/Portugal on the topic of Human Rights, Christian values and Catholic Social Teaching. Through inspiring presentations on foodbanks, refugees, media and peace we were confirmed that a way of life and activities, following the Gospels and Christian Social Teaching, also contributes to the realisation of Human Rights. That is what Christians can bring, and should bring to the public sphere.
Silence and prayer at Pi Church Barcelona
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- Written by Anna Vilà
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With silence and prayer. This is how a thousand people accompanied the families of Catalan political and social leaders in jail and in exile on Tuesday. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi in Barcelona welcomed the prayer of members of seven religious confessions. Each confession chose texts from their spiritual tradition to demand "a resolution of the Catalan conflict in a dignified, non-violent, and respectful of Human Rights way."
During an hour the Basilica remained silent. The representatives of the confessions, mainly women, read some of their sacred texts. Specifically, Montse Castellà, from Buddhists for Peace and Human Rights, took part; Moriah Ferrús, from the Jewish Community of Catalonia; Conxa Adell, Benedictine of the monastic community of Sant Pere de les Puel·les; the Choir of the Orthodox Church Protecció de la Mare de Déu; Aicha Mahmassani, from the Commission of Women of the Islamic Cultural Council of Catalonia; Marta López Ballalta, pastor at the Barcelona-center Protestant Church; and Gagandeep Singh Khalsa, spokesman for the Sikh community in Catalonia. In between prayer and prayer, the relatives lit 18 candles that presided over the celebration.
A word from the bischops of Catalunya
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- Written by Nuria Sastre
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In this period of Lent, a time of personal and community reflection and change, we cannot forget the political and social events that have taken place in Catalunya over the past months.
It is within that context that we, as bishops of the Catalan dioceses, appeal to everyone to strive to re-establish mutual trust in the society which is ours, with its great cultural, political and also religious plurality. Social cohesion, concord, feeling close to one another and respect for the rights of everyone living in Catalunya, these must be among our main goals at this time.
CoE: Summer session of the Conference of INGOs
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- Written by Philippe Grolleau
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THE HIGHLIGHTS of the Summer session, from the 25th to the 29th of June 2018 : (order of business)
During its summer session, the Conference of INGOs bodies have chosen to address new, relevant and diverse subjects which will be discussed with different stakeholders engaged for human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
At the Human Rights Committee meeting (Tuesday from 9.30 to 13.00), invited speakers will contribute to a debate on data protection and monitoring activities. Member INGOs are invited to actively contribute to the discussion on the future activities of the committee on the subjects of Freedom of expression and Poverty. The association “Regards d’enfants” will present the work of a group of school children on the theme “Human Rights and Sport”.
CoE about the Soros bill
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- Written by Anna Rurka
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As the President of the Conference of INGOs, I am extremely concerned by the criminalization of essential human rights work by NGOs in the context of migration that this bill proposes. The modification of the Criminal Code by this Bill targets organizations and professionals who are merely providing legitimate and necessary assistance to asylum-seekers. In addition, this draft Bill would criminalise the ‘production or dissemination of informational materials’, and other ‘organizational activities’ such as advocacy. These two elements alone risk seriously undermining the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association which are guaranteed by the European Convention for Human Rights, itself the cornerstone of Hungary’s membership of the Council of Europe.
The spiritual path, a path of fulfilment for humanity?
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- Written by Patrice Sauvage
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Facing the current developments and the crisis in our societies, is the rediscovery of the spiritual dimension not necessary? But how can we bear witness to this? Wouldn't it be by showing that the spiritual path is a path of fulfilment for our humanity? To try to answer these questions, I will base myself on two of my works which, precisely, address these subjects, trying on the one hand to update them - with a better consideration of the ecological dimension - and on the other hand to integrate René Macaire's thought, whose intuitions are correct but are too exclusively situated in a Christian framework.
An unbalanced choice.
In “Les deux sources de la morale et de la religion”, Henri Bergson highlights the fantastic impulse given to the West by Christianity which, by desecrating nature and bringing out individual consciousness, has released man's creative potential. According to him, this dynamic, initiated in the early middle Ages, could lead to two types of process: material development or mystical quest, "control over things" or "self-control that makes things independent".
Catholic Professionals and the call to good citizenship in Africa today
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- Written by Fredrick Wamalwa
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The Sub-Africa Africa faces several governance challenges that hinder public sector delivery. Public institutions such as parliament, judiciary and electoral bodies among others- in most countries in Sub-Africa Africa, remain under elite, ethnic and political capture. Voter bribery, intimidation, violence along tribal lines are common elements that characterize electoral process in the region. Social service delivery remains a big challenge. Data from Afrobameter shows that it is common for citizens from sub-Sahara Africa to pay bribes to receive medical care, obtain documents such as national identification cards and passports, get a child into school, avoid problems with the police, and obtain household services like piped water and electricity.
How Catholic social teaching can address polarization?
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- Written by Georgetown University
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From a panel discussion in Washington
Sister Teresa Maya grew up hearing her "abuela" say, "People understand each other by speaking to one another." In her grandmother's wisdom, she said, lies a way to address the polarization that seems to affect every aspect of U.S. society today. Fostering "encuentros," or encounters, on the personal level and people "really being interested in the other side of the story" would go a long way to encourage folks with different opinions to dialogue about all manner of issues with civility, she told an audience at Georgetown University June 4.
Sister Maya, a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word from San Antonio, is president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. She was one of four speakers at the public session of a June 4-6 invitation-only conference on "Though Many, One: Overcoming Polarization Through Catholic Social Thought." Organizers said the conference was meant to be a starting point to bring about Pope Francis' vision of the church responding to human hurts and social challenges by living out the joy of the Gospel.
Statements on political situation in Italy
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- Written by Meic - Fuci - Italian Catholic action
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1 MEIC: Government: incomprehensible stiffening, parties must find a sense of responsibility
The dramatic conclusion of the attempt to create a new government in the country is triggering a phase of instability for our democratic life. We are concerned about the arrogant way in which the President of the Republic has been forced to appoint a minister, an act which, according to our Constitution, he owns. We are concerned about the contemptuous judgments that are spreading over Sergio Mattarella for a decision that was the conclusion of a long work of mediation, shattered on the rocks of an incomprehensible stiffening of the political forces that should have supported the new government. A very delicate season is beginning, for the problems that our country has to face, but now also for the conflict that involves our institutions. At this delicate time, Meic would like to thank the President of the Republic for the dignity and seriousness with which he is managing a complex and difficult situation. At the same time, however, it is intended to remind the political parties and their leaders of a sense of responsibility towards the future that seems to have disappeared today, dissolved in an eternal present of incessant electoral campaigning.
Italy: in this confusion, let's go back to politics
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- Written by Sandro Campanini
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The situation changes minute by minute. And as I write it, this piece on the Italian political situation risks not being updated anymore. New hypotheses of government have re-emerged after the resounding end of the first attempt of the League-5 stars and the appointment of Carlo Cottarelli. And this too is a dramatic sign of a situation in which the search for true good for our country, on the part of many protagonists on the political scene, has increasingly gone into the background. Because this is the point that risks escaping the vortex of declarations, debates and contrasts. There is no question about whetehr a parliamentary majority is formed, which has the right to govern. But if, after almost three months of waiting, this has not yet been achieved and if the only political objective is either to govern at all costs or to go to new elections (it does not matter if in the middle of summer and with a country increasingly under attack from speculation, whose harmful effects - it should be remembered - are fortunately held back, at least for now, from membership of the Euro and a European institution such as the ECB), in the hope of increasing its consensus, without any concern for the real state and the needs of Italy, means that we are really losing sight of the fundamentals. And it's worrying to see so many people fidgeting and exalting, as if we were at the stadium, and then pulling up the pieces - the television, the smartphone and the computer off - of an economic situation that is getting worse.
Forward-looking policy and respected institutions together will be or fall
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- Written by Renato Balduzzi
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In order that "bread and justice", that is the material conditions of existence and the definition of what is due to each one, may be assured, favourable political and institutional conditions are needed. I start from an intense meditation that the prior of Bose, Luciano Manicardi, addressed last Saturday to a group of Alexandrians, on the theme "Spirituality and Politics", underlining the importance that those who devote themselves to the service of the polis have a strong inner inspiration and are characterized by capacity for imagination ("resisting" the technocratic paradigm and total institutions), creativity (see reality and invent possible answers) and courage (move from intention to act, "act despite"). This reflection has generated a question for me: what are the inspiring sources, what is the culture of the political families today emerging and their leaders, in Italy and in Europe?
European democracy in danger
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- Written by Othmar Karas
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We live in turbulent times: Financial and economic crisis, Brexit, migration and refugee flows, globalisation of the economy and a worrying waiting trend for populist movements accompany us. The question is obvious: Is European democracy in danger? But there is no simple answer to this question. Extreme positions and one-sided considerations do not lead to anything. Only in a broad and objective discourse can we meet the challenges ahead, survive the changes of time and safeguard European democracy.
A good example is the biggest economic, financial and sovereign debt crisis since hundred years, which we are just leaving behind more and more. The biggest problem of crisis management in 2007 and 2008 was that the euro is the only currency in the world that still has no national territory, no common budget policy and no common economic policy. But with this reality it was apparently intended to spare the people of Europe for a long time. It was not until the crisis that it had to be made clear that the "lack of Europe" and failures to develop the EU into a monetary, economic and social union were the main causes of Europe's inability to act.
The May 18 disconnect
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- Written by Ruki Fernando
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Travelling back to the final theatre of battle nine years later, where tens of thousands of civilians were trapped in the fighting, an activist reflects on the horrors of the final days of the war in 2009 and the inability of Sri Lankans in the north and south to connect to each other’s suffering on the anniversary of the guns falling silent. May 18, 2009 is the day Sri Lanka’s three decades long war came to an end.
Mullivaikkal, a narrow strip of beach in the Mullaitivu District is where the war ended, when the Sri Lanka Army militarily defeated the LTTE and its 26 year struggle for a separate Tamil state. Before 2009, Mullivaikkal was a beautiful, but practically unheard of village, between the now infamous Nandikadal Lagoon and the ocean on the island’s North Eastern coast. The days, weeks and months preceding May 18, 2009, Mullivaikkal and nearby areas had been the epicenter of the final battles of the civil war, with a UN estimate of tens of thousands killed – combatants and civilians and hundreds disappeared – many of them after surrendering themselves to the authorities.
I accuse: Christianity is dying in Poland
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- Written by Ludwik Wisniewski op
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Christianity is dying before everyone in Poland. The reason for this is not the propaganda of freethinkers or the activities of freemason lodges and international conspiracies. We ourselves are eradicating Christianity, we, clergymen, the most zealous members of the Church, at our own request and with our own hands. Fewer and fewer people identify with the Church. The Statistical Institute of the Catholic Church recently recorded the largest decline in practicing Catholics in years. In 2016, the figure fell by more than 3 percent compared to 2015 to 36.7 percent - the lowest figure in Poland's post-war history.
Present condition and role of the Catholic Church in Poland.
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- Written by Alfred Marek Wierzbicki
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My remarks about the present condition and role of the Catholic Church in Poland are not based on the formal sociological research, for I am not a sociologist. I would like just to share some observations and concerns which I live through as Christian and priest. My report is mostly based on the personal experience, but in spite of the subjective prospective I seek to objectivize my views as much as possible by taking into account a broader context.
1. Looking Through the Prism of Statistics
First let us ask what the statistics say about the Catholic Church in Poland. In the context of the Western countries of Europe the Catholic Church in my country manifests to be quite strong institution and living community of believers. Over 30 % of the entire population of Poland are “dominicantes” and this means that they participate in Mass every Sunday. One needs to add that in the South of Poland the percentage of “dominicantes” is higher and in some places it reaches 40%. Though the number of dominicantes and comunicantes keeps being exceptionally high, there is a remarkable tendency of downfall. In the recent year 2017 the fall reached 3, 2 % and it should be already alarming.
Italy soul searching. It is time to think about the common good
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- Written by Giuseppe Elia
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A little more than a year ago, recalling Aldo Moro, the President of the Republic traced this profile: "Crucial, in Moro, was the relationship between the State, politics and society. The understanding of social facts, of their interrelations, of the connections with the growing anxieties in other countries, was accompanied by a deep respect for the new phenomena, towards which he put himself in an attitude of listening, to make sure that they knot their path in the sphere of republican democracy and enrich the models of common life organized in institutions. He saw these, that is, constantly modulated on the positive effects of the transformations taking place in the Country".
Iranaitheevu land reclaiming
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- Written by Ruki Fernando
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Iranaitheevu: a community reclaims their island home from the Navy
On the morning of April 23, 2018, about 300 people from the Iranaitheevu twin islands decided to sail there in about 40 boats. They have been displaced since 1992, and the Navy has occupied the island, barring the local people from staying or even visiting their traditional land, on which had hinged their livelihood. The islands also had important institutions like a school, churches, cooperative, weaving centre, hospital and village council. These people hoped that they could return to their island after the end of the war in 2009, and the election of a new government in 2015. Yet, they were still not allowed to return, despite a series of meetings and correspondence with Ministers, politicians and government officials from 2016 to 2017. In desperation, they resorted to a continuous protest for almost a year (359 days as of April 23). Even that didn’t bring them home. On the morning of April 23, they planned something different. Something daring that most Sri Lankans wouldn’t try. I was scared of this too.
Freedom of Expression on the decline in Sri Lanka
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- Written by Ruki Fernando
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The last twelve months, since World Press Freedom day 2017, has not been a good year for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka. The war ravaged North bore the brunt of repression, while there were also several incidents in other parts of the country. Victims included journalists, lawyers, activists, artists and in particular those speaking out and advocating on issues such as of women’s rights, gender and sexuality. A website that had published content critical of the President was blocked, following an intervention from the Presidential Secretariat. With very few exceptions, impunity reigned for past violations of free expression, including most serious ones such as killings and disappearances of journalists and media workers and arson attacks on media institutions. At an event organized by the Free Media Movement (FMM) on the eve of World Press Freedom day, all the speakers and several participants acknowledged the lack of movement in structural reforms to the media in Sri Lanka in the last year.
Openness or protection: Miacs 2018
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- Written by Philippe Ledouble
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The globalization is profoundly disrupting our society. It calls into question some of our absolutes and the institutions that transmit them. It creates new types of relations, between countries and within countries because of migration. All this gives rise to hope or despair and radicalisation depending on the perspectives offered to people. This invites our movements to changes, conversions, to be able to assure our mission in this new context. We believe that concrete experiences play an essential role in this conversion process.
