AFRIQUE - MEDIA PLUS - n. 82

 

MEDIA PLUS - n. 82

CONGO-AFRIQUE - n. 555

 CONGO-AFRIQUE 555

RECLAIMING THE PIAZZA

 The first View from the Piazza is by Archbishop Rino Fisichella (President, Pontifical Council for the Promotion of New Evangelisation). It is the Preface from Reclaiming the Piazza III: Communicating Catholic Culture, which is due for publication soon.

Today Christians are called to live out their vocation in the face of challenges which involve generational change to an extent and at a pace never seen before in the history of humanity. If scientific and technical progress have conferred innumerable benefits on humankind, it is also true that these advancements have been accompanied in recent decades by forms of social, political and economic development which have given rise to a profound crisis of identity at both the personal and community level. These changes have not left the Church unscathed, with a growing detachment from faith in the form of religious indifference which is the prelude to a de facto atheism. Often the lack of knowledge of the basic tenets of Christianity goes hand in hand with a cultural naivety born of a collective amnesia, leading even Christians not only to participate in the overthrow of those moral principles which have served as the foundation of civilization for at least twenty-five centuries of human history, but also to be induced into forgetting the specifically Christian contribution to culture down through the centuries. Thus, it is the relativism of which the Magisterium of the Church has so often denounced the limits and contradictions which emerges as the characteristic note of recent decades, increasingly scarred by the consequences of a secularism which tends to blind our contemporaries to their fundamental relationship with God.

This is the context in which above all the Churches of ancient foundation are called to live, one in which human beings have so distanced themselves from their humanity as to create a spiritual desert without precedent. The new evangelisation as a response to this situation cannot be divorced therefore from the culture in which it operates. As sons and daughters of their time, the temptation for Christians is to just go with the flow, as it were, or risk being relegated to the margins of society. However, if we fail to take cognisance of the cultural and anthropological sea change going on around us, including those aspects which impact Christianity specifically, we risk labouring in vain, not least because we may very well be illuding ourselves that the languages in which we have hitherto expressed our faith are still understood by our contemporaries when this is in fact far from the case.

At the same time, cultural awareness is by itself insufficient for an effective evangelisation. Even a cursory glance at Church history from the earliest apologetes onwards demonstrates that cultural sensitivity has always gone hand in hand with the conviction that evangelisation consists in the Word of God entering into hearts and minds in order to call people to conversion. But it is not just a question of the Word being received by those to whom it is preached. The Gospel also is the criterion by which to measure the credibility of those who profess to live by the salvific Word they are also called to share, and thus becomes the foundation for the collective and individual identity of the community of faith. We forget at our peril that the Church does not evangelise because she is menaced by secularisation, but because she lives in obedience to her Lord’s command to preach his Gospel to every creature. In this enterprise, the style of life of the disciples is paramount because it is on our effective witness to Christ that our credibility, both as a people and as individuals, stands or falls and the transforming power of the Gospel is unlocked.

When the Word of God is announced and lived credibly, especially around the Eucharistic mystery, it has the capacity to transform culture in force of the Truth which it contains. Just as in the Gospels no-one meets Christ and goes away unchanged, so it is for culture when it is infused with the Word of God. It will come as no surprise then that beauty has become a privileged theme of the new evangelisation. The via pulchritudinis is central to announcing the Gospel which by its very nature seeks to express love through beauty. If the ancient philosophers were convinced that only that which is beautiful is worthy of being loved, Christians had to learn also to take on board the full implications of the incarnation, in which God becomes visible and speaks to us in human language, and learn that only that which is beautiful is worthy of being believed. Thus, while other religions run shy of representing God, Christianity positively delights in the artistic representation of the Mystery which lies at its heart.

It is my fervent hope that Communicating Catholic Culture, which comes to complement the earlier two volumes in the Reclaiming the Piazza series, will serve to make Catholics and other Christians more conscious of the diakonia of goodness, truth and beauty which their discipleship of Christ owes to the surrounding culture and which must be exercised as abundantly and creatively today as it has been in previous generations.

+Rino Fisichella

President

Pontifical Council for the

Promotion of the New Evangelisation

http://reclaimingthepiazza.com/2021/06/03/the-first-view-from-the-piazza/

POPE TO YOUNG ECONOMIST: EITHER YOU ARE INVOLVED OR HISTORY WILL PASS OVER YOU

 Message: [EN - ES - FR - IT]

Pope Francis sends a videomessage to young economists and entrepreneurs attending the Economy of Francis, and warns them that they are the future.

 By Vatican News staff writer

 Pope Francis opened his videomessage by congratulating the young people attending virtually for their commitment and determination in the period leading up to and during the event. “You have not left out anything that gives you joy, worries you, outrages you and pushes you to change”, he said.

Addressing the participants of the meeting “the Economy of Francis” in Assisi from 19 - 21 November, Pope Francis recalls that the “original” idea was to meet in Assisi to be inspired on the footsteps of St Francis. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the meeting was postponed and eventually held online.

The Pope noted that St Francis was entrusted with a mission and that therefore, “this virtual encounter to Assisi for me is not a point of arrival but the initial push of a process that we are invited to live as vocation, as culture and as pact. As vocation, as culture and as pact.”

The vocation of Assisi

The Lord asked Francis to go and repair his house, left in ruins. Pope Francis noted that these words inspired and moved young Francis, as “when you feel called, involved and protagonists of the "normality" to be built, you know how to say "yes", and this gives hope.” Just as Francis did, “I know that you accepted this call immediately, because you are able to see, analyse and experience that we cannot go on in this way”. Pope Francis went on to note that the young people attending the metting "manifest a special sensitivity and concern to identify the crucial issues that challenge us" and that they did "from a particular perspective: the economy, which is your area of research, study and work."

The Pope then went on to warn that they are called "to make a concrete impact in your cities and universities, in work and trade unions, in companies and movements, in public and private offices with intelligence, commitment and conviction, to get to the core and heart where the themes and paradigms are elaborated and decided.  All this prompted me to invite you to make this pact. You cannot go outside where the present and the future are generated. Either you are involved or history will pass over you."

A new culture

Pope Francis then went on to note that a change is needed, wanted and seeked. "We do not have adequate and inclusive answers" to the problems that arise, he said, and "we lack the necessary culture and spirituality to allow and stimulate the opening of different visions and that does not allow itself to be locked in by a single dominant logic." 

"If there is an urgent need to find answers, it is essential to grow and support leading groups capable of developing culture, initiate processes - don't forget this word: initiate processes - chart paths, broaden horizons, create belonging... Every effort to administer, care for and improve our common home, if this effort is to be significant, requires changing "lifestyles, production and consumption models, the consolidated power structures that today govern society".  Without doing this, you will do nothing."

Too many people are suffering from this social and economic crisis, continued the Pope. "We must return a little to the mystique of the common good." 

A special time

In this way, continued the Pope, "the future will be a special time, in which we feel called to recognise the urgency and the beauty of the challenge presented to us". It will be a time, he continued, "that reminds us that we are not condemned to economic models that focus their immediate interest on profits as a unit of measurement and the pursuit of similar public policies that ignore their human, social and environmental cost."

The Assisi Pact

We cannot afford to keep putting off certain issues, said the Pope.

Today, thinking of the common good, we need in an inescapable way that politics and the economy, in dialogue, place themselves decisively at the service of life, especially human life". It is not enough to increase the common wealth for it to be equally distributed - no, this is not enough - it is not enough to promote technology so that the earth becomes more human to inhabit". This is not enough either.

Credit systems alone are a road to poverty and dependence, said the Pope. He explained that this "legitimate protest" calls for the stimulation and accompaniment of a model of international solidarity that recognizes and respects the interdependence between nations and favours control mechanisms capable of avoiding any kind of submission, as well as overseeing the promotion of the most disadvantaged and developing countries; each people is called to make itself the author of its own destiny and that of the entire world.

Dear young people, "get your hands dirty" and do not forget, from a crisis we never come out the same: we come out better or worse. 

Lessons from history

Concluding his videomessage, Pope Francis noted that "History teaches us that there are no systems nor crises able to completely cancel the capacity, the ingenuity, and creativity that God does not cease to stir in hearts. With dedication and fidelity to your people, to your present and your future, you can join others in weaving a new way of making history. Do not be afraid, said the Pope, to get involved and to touch the soul of the cities with the gaze of Jesus; do not be afraid to dwell courageously in conflicts and the crossroads of history so as to anoint them with the aroma of the Beatitudes. Do not be afraid, because no one is saved alone. No one is saved alone. To you young people, coming from 115 countries, I invite you to recognise that we need each other to give life to this economic culture."

 

MESSAGE : [EN - ES - FR - IT]

 

NETHERLANDS: AN OPEN AND SAFE CULTURE

 en-fr-it-nl

As an organization, CNVO the Netherlands does not prescribe what school employees must do in terms of educational content. So a comprehensive response to the questions is difficult to give from the point of view of our organization. In a general sense some remarks:

o   The freedom of education is a great good. This provides a variety of offerings that makes students, parents and employees feel at home. For the CNV it is important that employees have a pleasant working environment in which they recognize themselves in the norms and values, educational philosophy and approach.

o   To continue to guarantee a good working environment, an open and safe culture is required. This creates space for good and vulnerable discussions about dilemmas, new situations, events, a view on inclusive sexuality. Within a school team it is important that there is room for these conversations (offer support, tips, listening ear, broad shoulder to cry on, time for reflections, do we do the right things?, Do we do them right ?, etc.) .

o   In education we see more and more attention for critical thinking, in a world where much information is spread through all kinds of media. What is good and what is bad? What does one person think? What does the other think? A class is often seen as a small community with room for honesty, safety and trust to have a dialogue and to express an opinion without (condemning) classmates. The teacher must ensure that attention is paid to exchanging arguments, listening to each other, where students are confronted with different opinions and thoughts. But also the downside to this: condemnation of thoughts, hardening of language, bullying, exclusion, violence, abuse of power and loneliness. In a class, the challenge is to discuss this with each other, to experience and live it. This creates space to form your opinion, exchange arguments and respectfully live with someone else's opinion together in class.

NETHERLANDS. AN OPEND AND SAFE CULTURE  - EN - FR - NL- IT

 

Glasgow - CATHOLICISM CULTURE EDUCATION

 Religion, education and culture are three important themes in the contemporary educational landscape. 

The Proceedings from the ACISE 2018 Conference offer many rich perspectives on how Catholic education contributes to and is informed by wider cultural developments. 

This important volume will be a great friend to those who wish to navigate the complex mix of opportunities and challenges which Catholic schools, colleges and universities face today. 

 Leonardo Franchi University of Glasgow Conference Organiser

 Edited by Leonardo Franchi - Acise 2018
EDUCATION RELIGIONS

Broché - format : 15,5 x 24 cm
ISBN : 978-2-343-16252-2 • 10 décembre 2018 • 318 pages
EAN13 : 9782343162522
EAN PDF : 9782140107382    

UNESCO : nouveau projet pour la prévention de l'extrémisme violent -Nuovo progetto per la prevenzione dell'estremismo violento - New project for the prevention of violent extremism

Cofinancé par le Canada, ce nouveau projet apportera son soutien à des initiatives menées sur le terrain par des jeunes, dans les domaines de l’éducation, des sciences, de la culture et des médias pour prévenir l’extrémisme violent. En particulier le projet vise à : 
 soutenir toute stratégie éducative en faveur de la prévention à l’extrémisme violent ; 
 Lutter contre la diffusion de la haine et de la radicalisation au travers les medias et notamment les réseaux sociaux ; 
 Renforcer la culture de la citoyenneté et du respect des droits de l’homme en promouvant le patrimoine culturel et la diversité culturelles.
Au cours de cet événement, la Directrice générale de l’UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, et le Secrétaire général adjoint du Centre des Nations Unies pour la lutte contre le terrorisme, Vladimir Voronkov, ont évoqué des solutions proposées par les Nations Unies et l’UNESCO pour répondre à l’extrémisme violent.

Pour plus d’information sur la stratégie de l’UNESCO dans la lutte contre l’extrémisme violent voir http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002477/247764e.pdf 

Le Saint-Siège est toujours impliqué dans la lutte contre l’extrémisme violent. 

 A ce propos, les messages des Papes contre le terrorisme international sont plusieurs. Parmi eux, on soumet à votre attention celui du Pape François adressé aux jeunes lors de sa visité à l’Université de Roma Tre le 17 février 2017. "Aucune religion est terroriste. Il y a des hommes et des femmes violents dans tout peuple et toute religion qui visent à renforcer la haine et l’intolérance" a-t-il affirmé. 

Son prédécesseur, le Pape Benoit XVI, a également dénoncé le terrorisme de matrice religieuse à plusieurs reprises. D’après lui, ce terrorisme "n’est pas la vraie nature de la religion. C’est au contraire son travestissement et il contribue à sa destruction".
Dans le même sens, Mgr Francesco Follo s’est adressé à la communauté internationale lors de la 39e Conférence Générale de l’UNESCO en affirmant que « Le terrorisme ne sera pas vaincu par la violence, mais par un retour aux racines vitales de l’éducation, de la culture et de la foi. Telle est l’espérance qui nous anime ».
(Voici le lien au texte complet du discours de Mgr Follo https://www.assau.org/discours-de-mgr-follo-chef-de-la).

 “UNESCO : Launch of Project “to Tackle Violent Extremism in Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia”

https://www.assau.org/unesco-extremisme-violent

France: CULTURE DE CHANGEMENT OU CULTURE CONSERVATRICE?

A la croisée

 des chemins

Que nous le voulions ou non, nous sommes insérés dans un système économique mondialisé. 

Nous avons le choix :

• Ou bien nous adapter à ce système pour en tirer profit au mieux, tout en agissant pour en limiter les effets négatifs aussi bien sur le plan national (par exemple en luttant contre la tendance à accroître les inégalités et en protégeant les couches de la population les plus fragiles) que sur le plan international (en soutenant les efforts, grâce à la coopération européenne, pour aller dans le sens des régulations, par exemple financières et environnementales, et de la solidarité internationale).
• Ou bien nous replier sur nous-mêmes en tentant d'ériger des barrières protectionnistes, ce qui signifierait sortir de l'Europe et revenir à une économie administrée avec tous les effets néfastes que l'on connaît (augmentation des prix, perte des marchés internationaux, chômage)... Tout porte à croire que ce deuxième choix porté, entre autres, par le Front National aboutirait à un appauvrissement généralisé et à une grave crise sociale et politique......

Voir: Nous sommes à la croisée des chemins.