Portugal: Episcopal Conference is concerned about the social situation in the country and believes that «democracy works»
Spokesman for the episcopate spoke to journalists after the meeting of the Permanent Council, which took place in Fátima
Fátima 10 Jan 2023 (Ecclesia) – The Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) “is concerned” with the social situation in the country and believes that “democracy works” and support for families and institutions is not affected by cases of “instability” .
Asked at the end of the CEP Permanent Council meeting about dismissals in the Government, Father Manuel Barbosa recalled that the Church does not take a position on these cases and referred that instability “is due to the fact that democracy works”.
“We do not take a position on this. We believe that democracy works, and works to its fullest, respecting the dignity of citizens, all the values in which we believe and announce”, they told journalists.
Father Manuel Barbosa said that the CEP “is concerned about the social situations, the financial and economic difficulties that families and institutions are going through”, valued the “extraordinary support that was given to the IPSS” and said that “it must continue” so that they may “serve as the poor”.
The spokeswoman for the episcopate also referred to the legislative process on the decriminalization of euthanasia and, recalling the CEP communiqué issued on the occasion of the approval of the new diploma by the Assembly of the Republic, reaffirmed that “the Church is always against the situation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, it is always in defense of life and its anxiety and it is necessary to create conditions for it to occur”.
“We remain hopeful regarding its non-approval, but we naturally hope that the legislative process takes place”, said Father Manuel Barbosa.
In presenting the works of the Permanent Council, the CEP secretary said that preparations were made for the extraordinary meeting of the Plenary Assembly on March 3, on the study carried out by the Independent Commission for the Study of Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church, at his request , as well as the usual meeting after Easter, which will take place between the 17th and 20th of April, where the election for the bodies of the Episcopal Conference for the next three years will take place.
Father Manuel Barbosa also informed that Portugal will participate with the presence of four people (the president of the CEP, the secretary and two lay people who are part of the synodal team) in the meeting of the continental stage of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in Prague, between the 5th and 9th of February.
At the press conference, the CEP spokesperson also referred to the Meeting of Delegates of Lusophone Bishops, which will take place in Nampula, between January 31st and February 5th, and will be attended by the vice-president of Episcopal Conference, D. Virgílio Antunes, representing the Portuguese episcopate.
The CEP secretary also informed that the dioceses of Portugal and the Congregations of Consecrated Life participated in the campaign launched before Christmas to support the Major Seminary in Kiev, Ukraine, having already sent 100 thousand euros in aid and preparing to send more “a few tens of thousands”, and said that “whoever wants to support this campaign” can do so through the Episcopal Conference.
HM/PR