Posts From Piotr Mazurkiewicz
EN | IT – (France) – On December 12, 2014, in Paris, two MPs – Jean Leonetti and Alain Claeys – published a Report which proposed a revision of the French law of 2005 about the rights of patients and the issue of the “end of life”. This revision is considered to fulfil a promise made by François Hollande in his presidential campaign of 2012. Adults with an incurable disease at an advanced or terminal stage which is causing unbearable physical or mental suffering, may request medical assistance to put an end “with dignity” to their lives. This promise was seen at the time as a response to the desire to legalize euthanasia.
EN | IT | FR – The theme of the Synod is the family in the context of evangelization. Not surprisingly, then, the document reflects on the majority of “irregular” situations in the context of the education given to children. But it notes that “irregular” are situations, not people. A person always deserves respect, and when he or she turns to the Church with a request for the spiritual well-being of children this is always an opportunity to establish a pastoral contact.
EN | IT | FR – The Instrumentum laboris of the next Synod of Bishops / 2 – Among the concerns expressed by the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe there is in the first place the diminished popularity of marriage, both religious and civil. Young people still want to cherish for a lifetime, but in fact the number of couples who live ad experimentum, with no registration, neither canonical nor civil, and without any obligation, is growing. This form of communal living is often not intended as only temporary, but the choice is permanent.
EN | IT | FR – The Instrumentum laboris of the next Synod of Bishops / 1 – The working paper “The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization” summarizes the results of the questionnaire sent last year to the local Churches. Many responses came from Europe, mentioned in the text more often than other continents. Hope seems to be the most important message of this document.
EN | PL | IT – Regardless of how the dispute over European democracy will develop, we must say that “One of Us” as a social campaign, was a great success for European citizens and pro-life NGOs. For the first time there has been extensive cooperation among the pro-life movements from all over Europe. The European Federation of Pro-life Movements “One of Us” was founded. The introduction of the theme of the defence of life in the public debate in Europe has carried out a great educational task. The organizers of the initiative are determined not to surrender their weapons, but to continuously monitor the EU financial policy. Other ways are not passable, at least for now.
EN | IT – On May 15th, 2014, International Day of the Family, in New York, a group of Elected Legislative representatives from throughout the world launched the “Declaration on the Rights of the Family”. Declaration was prepared by a small group of parliamentarians from diverse parts of the world, embracing representatives from Argentina, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, USA, as well as others, including international law experts, coordinated by Senator Jim Walsh from Ireland. They met in 2012 and agreed to draft a document that would reaffirm the bedrock of human rights on the family, based on marriage between one man and one woman, existing in international law: a theme that is central to the debate, even in our Europe.
EN | PL | IT – Church has got two saints Popes. These personalities are similar to each other and very different at the same time. In his homily at the canonization Mass, Pope Francis stressed that both “were not afraid to look upon the wounds of Jesus, to touch his torn hands and his pierced side”. Each of them, Pope Francis gave a title which in a special way describes his mission. St. John XXIII was “the Pope of openness to the Holy Spirit”, St. John Paul II “Pope of the family”. The first is closely related to the convening of the Second Vatican Council. The second to the special importance attached by Pope John Paul II to family issues.
EN | PL | IT – According to John Paul II, Europe is a continent of culture and its boundaries coincide with the boundaries of evangelization. “The European identity is incomprehensible without Christianity”, said in Santiago de Compostela. Other currents have co-created the European identity, but without them European culture would be poorer, without Christianity would never have been formed.
EN | IT – Thirty years ago, to celebrate the Year of the Family, Pope John Paul II wrote a Letter to Families. The Pope stressed that the family is “the way of the Church” and that “the future of humanity passes by way of the family”. He was also well aware that today, also in Europe, it is very difficult for families to fulfil their tasks properly.
