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                                  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   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)