The national president of the Catholic wishes to express best wishes for Christmas and true for the new year to all Italians, believers and non- believers, and those coming from other countries seeking a better future in our country.
is a sincere wish, which is rooted in hope - according to the wishes expressed in the note that we had in mid-September - and hope that must guide our steps even in a difficult time of crisis. We are well aware that the festive season approaches with Italy and other pressing concerns, first of all the hardest by the economic crisis on the real life of people and the continuing political crisis. There is, however, allowed, for the good of our civil society, giving the feeling of hope. We would like that feeling at this moment, was included the full extent: the hope is reflected in the lives of everyone, and in everyday life, in courage, stamina, confidence, firm belief that there will always be a storm. Hope is a powerful engine that does not turn off their consciences, not soothes the soul in a calm resignation, on the other hand activates the best resources of the person: personal and community initiative to defend and promote the common good and dignity of each individual, sense of duty and responsibility towards the public sphere, the personal integrity that results in exemplary lifestyle for others. We are called, so widespread and tangible, at a constant seed of good, enabling the country to build the entire its future on solid foundations.
In mid-September, Catholic Action poses to everyone's attention some of the themes of "everyday life" that there is negligible, first of all the work, the integration of immigrants, family support, and in particular to families in need. Less than two months ago, in Reggio Calabria, Catholics engaged in social Week wrote an ambitious and serious agenda of hope for the country. It proposed, among others, measures to not turn the lack of job insecurity in existence, for self-employment support and cooperation to ensure the full participation of foreigners - in diritti e nei doveri - alla vita della città, per inserire criteri di moralità, trasparenza e legalità nella selezione della classe dirigente e politica, per slegare la mobilità sociale dei giovani. Si invocava, inoltre, la riforma della legge elettorale e il completamento condiviso delle riforme istituzionali, necessarie per rendere il Paese più competitivo nei mutati scenari globali. Eravamo già nel cuore della crisi politica, eppure nessuno volle ridimensionare il sogno di un Paese a misura di tutti. Ad oggi, dopo il voto di fiducia, il quadro politico ci sembra essere ancora più fragile. Ci chiediamo: c’è la reale volontà, possibilità, capacità di assumere l’agenda della vita quotidiana? Ci are the conditions for the political class as a whole, will be able to take upon himself the real demand for concrete that comes from ordinary people and families? And in the face of an economic crisis that continues to worry and affect everyday life, there will be a burst of shared responsibility to ensure the country's growth and security of your account? We can not deny that the controversy over the summer away even more politics involved in various showdowns, citizens, more and more convinced that it can not find the necessary support to institutions out of their difficulties.
"If people lose confidence in politicians - remember in his inaugural address Assembly of the CEI (November 8, 2010) Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco - inevitably withdraws into itself, the impetus falls participatory, everything becomes heavy and twisted, but most is not the ability to articulate and dynamic unity that is absolutely necessary to address the obstacles and look to the future of the country. "
This detachment is a tare on the future of everyone, especially the younger generation. The risk was highlighted in a special initiative launched last November 13 by Catholic Action, which met in Rome local administrators trained in the ranks of the association. Were administrators from all formations politiche, convinti però che ci sia, proprio nei territori, un surplus di volontà e intelligenza per ritrovarsi intorno alle questioni cruciali, senza barriere ideologiche e di appartenenza. È questa la democrazia moderna che l’Italia, inascoltata, reclama da tempo.
E proprio a riguardo delle nuove generazioni, abbiamo assistito sgomenti alle violenze del 14 dicembre nel centro di Roma, mentre era in corso il voto di fiducia. Quanto accaduto ha superato ogni limite accettabile: la distruzione dei luoghi pubblici, il pericolo portato a cittadini e turisti, lo scontro con le forze dell’ordine, lo sfoggio eloquente di violenza e provocazione non appartengono alla cultura dei giovani italiani, degli studenti, degli universitari precarious and universities. The war report issued a few hours after the fact really leaves a bad taste in his mouth and calls on all extra food for thought. It is known to most that these manifestations of violence are always multiple reasons, including the mobilization of all dangerous fringe organized. Catholic Action, in which thousands of young people participating in the margins of these events but would like to propose an additional factor. Several times he complained about the severe frustration of the younger generation afflicted by insecurity wild, low horizons, perspectives, much darker than they had before their fathers. Over time, dramatically, they have closed many of the spaces comparison between adults and young people. The gerontocracy often complained of is not only the occupation of positions of power by people in later years, but also the water resistance of many institutions to the ideas and sensibilities of young people. Political parties, unions, schools, universities, the voluntary sector are likely to give up its own proverbial task: to convey in the seeds of new public dialogue that always come from new generations. In the absence of places where there is a real discussion and real listening, what remains of the young? A lifeless acceptance of the status quo? Every act of violence queries all, who builds and who suffers: What is do every day to avoid it? The dialogue between the social partners, particularly with young people, is one of the urgencies of the historical moment. Surrender in the name of their own ideas and beliefs only leads to a dead end. We would, from this point of view, highlight the particular contribution of associations such as Catholic Action, which have as their own full protagonist, in fact, adults, young people and children. Crushed
But what happens within our borders, into an abyss of provincialism typical of our country, we close our eyes to the tragedies and even bigger problem: the plight of the poor (think of indifference to the cholera in Haiti ) the persecution for religious reasons, the permanent war scenarios. Therefore constantly renew the appeal to the generosity and solidarity towards those who suffer real, unconditionally and without ulterior motives. Wrapped in a dark climate, we can not forget you are citizens of the world, and that our fortunes are increasingly intertwined. It is also for this reason that the Catholic Action and the balance keeps alive their relationship with the Holy Land, a crossroads of hope and conflict. In these festivals, so many members of the association, together with the National President, pilgrims will be in those lands, to rediscover the full meaning of a humanity that demands for peace, justice and solidarity.
Hope l’Azione cattolica vuole tenere viva non è aleatoria. Il rapporto costante con il territorio mette in evidenza tantissime risorse umane, politiche, professionali, sociali, imprenditoriali, culturali e ambientali che sono in movimento, non si lasciano abbattere e scoraggiare. A queste risorse occorre però affiancare urgentemente la risorsa più grande: la partecipazione civica di ciascuno, l’interesse diffuso per la sfera pubblica, la formazione sociale e politica che rende ogni uomo e ogni donna libero e in grado di decidere, agire, denunciare, annunciare. L’Azione cattolica avverte tutta l’urgenza di qualificare sempre più il proprio contributo: proponendo itinerari di fede in cui il Vangelo illumini non solo la personal dimension, but also the community life, encouraging a higher meaning of the study, research and work for the common good, supporting the training of young people and adults who want to engage in politics, social issues, culture and protection of rights, seeking to build networks with all people of good will, for the attention of the community should be on the major problems of families and individuals.
At the conclusion of this reflection, do not look like the 150 years anniversary of the unification of Italy, at which a considerable contribution has been given just by Catholics, often grown in the ranks of Catholic Action, which must be one of the founders of our country.
sure that these feelings belong to the real majority of the country, to renew the heart of all the warmest wishes for a peaceful Christmas.
Rome, December 22, 2010
