Representatives of European churches will come to Prague
Prague – The situation in Europe in connection with the war in Ukraine as well as the related humanitarian and refugee crisis as well as the energy crisis will be the topics of the visit of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Prague. Today, their members will meet Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and members of the parliamentary committee for European affairs.
The program of the two-day visit to the Czech Republic also includes a meeting with the leadership of the Czech Bishops’ Conference, including Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner and the Ecumenical Council of Churches, which will be represented by its Secretary General Petr Jan Vinš. The delegation will be led by COMECE President Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich and CEC President Christian Krieger.
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At the end of October this year, representatives of both organizations already met with Czech Ambassador to the EU Edita Hrda, who presented a joint document in which they express their expectations and perspectives regarding the current development and policy of the European Union. In it, they appealed for the Czech Presidency to contribute to a peaceful and sustainable solution to the war, support Ukraine’s prospects for EU accession and contribute to ensuring accountability for all war crimes.
In the event of a humanitarian crisis caused by war, the Church recalls the necessity of solidarity between EU countries and those member states that receive the majority of people seeking protection. It also demands a guarantee of equal treatment for every individual seeking international protection and must mention trafficking in human beings, especially women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine.
In a document addressed to the Czech Presidency, the churches said the EU Council should contribute to ensuring access to every available heating, sponsoring local energy communities in member states, seeking to link away from fossil fuels to strengthen independence from authoritarian regimes, and accelerating the transition to decarbonisation through Green Agreement for Europe (Green Deal) and related measures.
COMECE represents the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the member countries of the European Union at the EU institutions. It monitors EU policy and legislation, especially from the point of view of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. The CEC brings together 113 European churches of the Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox traditions. The organization was created after the Second World War in an effort to promote peace and the rapprochement of European countries with different political, economic and social systems thanks to the cooperation of their churches.
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Author: ČTK Date: December 7, 2022 Photo: Wikimedia Commons – Prague