EUROPE/ITALY - Catholic Bishops of Africa and Europe say “we want to see what can be done to make the Gospel have greater impact on the present day”

Rome (Fides Service) - Solidarity among Churches of Africa and Europe, first evangelisation on both continents, immigration, the challenge of religious fundamentalism, Africa’s development, were some of the topics discussed by Catholic Bishops of Africa and Europe during the first ever joint Symposium organised by the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences CCEE and the Symposium of the Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar SECAM. The Symposium, on the theme “Communion and solidarity between Europe and Africa”, was held at the Salesian General House in Rome 10 to 13 November under the patronage of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and in collaboration with several organisations for promoting solidarity.
On Friday 12 November during a press conference on the Symposium, CCEE President Bishop Amedee Grab of Coira (Switzerland) underlined that the answer to the challenge of religious fundamentalism, “is not more fundamentalism. Despite the apparent weakness of our reaction we must be committed to Christian principles and this entails respect even for those who do not respect us. Of course we aim for reciprocity but if this is lacking it must not be a reason to deny religious freedom to those who live in our midst”. In this regard, Archbishop John Onaiyekan of Abuja (Nigeria), SECAM President warned of the danger of political exploitation of religion: “Our experience in Nigeria has helped us to realise that we must be on our guard when politicians speak about religion. Religion risks being exploited for political and electoral ends. The introduction of Sharia law in northern Nigerian states is an example of this process”.
With regard to the problem of African immigration to Europe Archbishop Onaiyekan said “There are two stages: the first is the immediate emergency when immigrants must be welcomed and given the opportunity to live with dignity”. According to the Archbishop of Abuja the world must realise that migratory flows are a structural factor of globalisation and that therefore it is necessary to overcome the culture of emergency and work together to identify effective policies. “It is time to prepare ourselves for a globalised world. This situation of peoples on the move is not new. Did not the peoples of Europe populate America?” Archbishop Onaiyekan asked. The Church strives to educate people not to fall prey to mirages but it is not easy to persuade young people to avoid the snares of slave merchants. “For our part, as Church, we do all we can warn young people not to accept attractive but dangerous invitations to emigrate, but not many of them listen. When girls are warned of the risk of ending up on the streets in some European city, many reply that anything is better than staying in Nigeria”.
With regard to evangelisation in Europe Bishop Grab said: “we Europeans tend to see ourselves as evangelisers of Africa, forgetting the history of the African Church. Today we even see African Bishops engaged in first evangelisation in the cities of Europe”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/11/2004 righe 41 parole 516)