Hello All!
                This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.
                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

HOPES AND CONCERNS OF THE AMERICAN CONTINENT

VATICAN CITY, 27 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Special Assembly for America of the
General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops held its fifteenth meeting on 16
and 17 November. The work focused on the question of "New evangelisation for
the transmission of the Christian faith" which was one of the key themes of the
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in America".

Under the presidency of Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the
Synod of Bishops, a number of questions concerning the social and ecclesial
situation in various countries of the continent were discussed.

According to a communique released after the meeting, America shows "many signs
of hope but also some causes for concern. The positive economic development of
certain countries was noted with satisfaction, although the more equal
distribution of wealth and natural resources should be encouraged". People are
showing "growing ecological awareness" and there are
"efforts towards greater
continental integration ... which seek to recover the unity of the entire
continent". Among the reasons for concern, the communique mentions "the
alarming social situation in Haiti" where "the concrete solidarity shown by
foreign governments and ecclesial organisations would being better fruits if
the local bodies were able to make more organic use of the aid received.

"Migration is one of the aspects to arouse most concern", the text adds.
Illegal immigrants have to face serious difficulties and are often forcibly
repatriated to their countries of origin. The Church remains dedicated to
promoting programmes of social and religious assistance to immigrants, in order
to favour cultural integration and social peace.

"Other sources of concern include the production and trafficking of drugs, the
trafficking of arms, violence and political corruption. ... Particular
attention must be given to the promotion of a series of laws that run counter
to ethical norms (laws on abortion, euthanasia, and marriage between persons of
the same sex), and the diffusion of a spirit that does not conform with
Christian values in the fields of education and of communications".

From a social perspective "it must be noted with satisfaction that electoral
processes regularly take place in various countries. ... Nonetheless, there is
no lack of ideological attempts to alter constitutional and legislative norms,
provoking internal tensions even with local Churches. ... In this context the
tendency is to ignore the Catholic Church, excluding her as a partner in social
dialogue despite the high credibility she enjoys among the people.

"In the ecclesial field, one cause for consolation is the increase in vocations
to the priesthood, though this varies greatly between different countries and
between different dioceses. ... One particularly important aspect is the
awareness that all the Church on the continent must be in a state of mission".

"The impact of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on
the Word of God in the life and the mission of the Church was judged to be very
positive, as was that of its respective Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
'Verbum Domini'".

"The other point of order", the communique reads, "concerned
the expectations
of the Church in America about the Thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the
Synod of Bishops, due to be held from 7 to 28 October 2012 on the theme 'The
new evangelisation for the transmission of the Christian faith'".

The next meeting of the Special Assembly for America of the General Secretariat
of the Synod of Bishops will be held from 27 to 28 October 2011.
SE/VIS 20101129 (580)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21