EUROPE/SPAIN - 26 - 30 June European Bishops' Conferences General Secretaries discuss religious situation on the continent

Tuesday, 24 June 2008

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Oviedo (Agenzia Fides) - The annual meeting of General Secretaries of the European Bishops' Conferences will be held this year in Covadonga, Oviedo, Spain, 26-30 June. General Secretaries of the following Bishops' Conferences will be present: Albania, Belo Russia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, England and Wales, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, San Cirillo e San Metodio, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine (Byzantine and Latin). The Archbishop of Oviedo, Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra will attend the meeting, promoted by the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).
The main theme of the Meeting is the Religious Situation in Europe: Secularisation and the Demand for Meaning and Spirituality. After the presentation of the situation in the different countries the discussion will focus on the role of the Church, evangelisation, pastoral care and the activity of Bishops' Conferences.
The participants will reflect on various urgent issues including: Bio-ethics: legalisation of euthanasia and embryo stem cell research; the presence of Islam in Europe (and the presentation of the next Christian-Muslim European Conference, in Malines/Brussels, Belgium, 20 - 23 October 2008, organised by CCEE and the Conference of European Churches); permanent deacons; religious education in Europe (presentation of CCEE report on religious education); World Youth Day in Sydney, 15-20 July 2008; The Year of St Paul (2008-2009); The 12th Ordinary Plenary Assembly XII of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican (5-26 October 2008).
The participants will also share experience on matters of ecumenism and discuss the process of the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), held last September in Sibiu, Rumania and its implications on the ecumenical scenario in Europe. There will also be the presentation of the programme of the 1st Forum Catholic-Orthodox Forum, scheduled to be held in Trent (Italy) 11 - 14 December 2008 with the title “The Family Humanity's Treasure ”.
The imminent Meeting in Orviedo will give the participants and opportunity to know more about the situation of the Catholic Church in Spain and about the Jubilee Year of the Holy Cross in Oviedo.
The daily agenda will include time for private prayer and a celebration of the Eucharist. On Sunday 29 June the participants will visit the city and gather with the local community for the midday Pilgrim Mass at Orviedo Cathedral on the occasion of the Jubilee Year of the Holy Cross. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/6/2008)