Lay Congress in the Framework of the Central European Catholic Days
In the foreground of the large final event of the Central European Catholic Days at Mariazell/Austria, the Austrian lay organisations and their partners in the member countries of the Conference distributed their invitations to attend at the Lay Congress taking place in Vienna from 20 to 21 May 2004. After having organised quite a number of symposia in Austria, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, CECC has already dealt with disquieting societal subjects, such as Life Ethics, Participation of the Church in Society and Economy, or the demographic development of Europe.The organisers of the Lay Congress, enabling about 250 Christians to convene, intended to make yet another review of the most topical issues of the symposia. They were debated in a number of workshops.
Prominent personalities gave substantial impulses under the motto of the Conference "Christians on the Building Site Europe". The president of the Commission of the Episcopal Conference of the EU-Area (ComECE), bishop Josef Homeyer, requires the Christians to take up their responsibility for the future of Europe by being committed to react to various critical challenges, such as the birth rate recess, immigration, stagnating economic growth, or the dialogue with the Islam. Bishop Homeyer expresses himself: "We should not hesitate to get involved in public, and economical issues."
The former Director General of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, chairman of the "Semaines Sociales de France" (French Social Weeks) insisted, in his lecture, that Europe bears responsibility for the third world, in welcoming initiatives such as "New Partnership for the Development of Africa".
Bishop Josef Clemens, secretary of the Papal Lay Council, underlined the importance of the Congress as a strong impulse to the lay apostolate for East and West Europe. It focuses - as a sort of counter-initiative against general indifference, secularisation, and atheism - upon the revival of the Christian substance of the communities. Part of it is the awakening of respect for the inviolable right to life, the freedom of conscience and confession, the strengthening of the family as the first room for social engagement, and the introduction of Christian approach into politics and economy. After this lecture a meeting between the secretary general of FAFCE Thomas Kloiber and bishop Clemens took place. Clemens appreciated the commitment of FAFCE, assured that he would follow up the activities of the Federation, and wished the blessings of God for their further work.
Chairman of the Central Committee of the German Catholics, Hans Joachim Meyer, specified the most essential issues that should be contributed by the Christians to the shaping of Europe, and namely human dignity, protection and support of the family and social justice. As to the family being the central societal unit, Meyer believes that "a society leaving families to their fate is a dying society". Family is not a private issue. On the other hand, its support should not be understood as penalising the childless.
At the margin of the Conference, Othmar Karas, member of the EU-Parliament, made an appeal that EU should be understood as a "Project of European Citizens" and, at the same time ,a "Project of Christians". Othmar Karas, actively assisting the Austrian Presidency of the FAFCE, stressed the fact that Europe of the future would need a new type of positive cohesion. This is where the Christians can offer a very substantial contribution.
The workshop "How do we live tomorrow - strategies concerning the demographic development of Europe" was chaired by FAFCE secretary general Kloiber. President of the family association of the Steiermark, Ms Sissi Potzinger, presented the introductory lecture.