EU/Global Ecumenic movement Taizé's Head, Alois to EuroFora: BioEthics=New Challenge for Humanity

     *Strasbourg/Cathedral-Great Seminar/Angelo Marcopolo/- BioEthical issues are of growing Importance for Today's Young People, and, therefore, form part of those "New Challenges" for Humanity, in front of whom, the European/International Ecumenical Movement "Taizé" wants to stimulate "New Solidarities" Worldwide, able to "ReVitalize" the whole Church and the Society, inspired also by the "Early Christians", with a Global perspective, as its 2014 planed Collective Events at the Hearts of both America and Europe : Texas/Mexico/Haiti/Cuba and Prague, clearly indicate, replied in substance its Head, Brother Alois, to "EuroFora"s questions in a Press Conference, together with the Catholic ArchBishops and Protestant leaders of Strasbourg and Prague, at a Press Conference in the Great Seminar, followed by a majestic Ecumenical Celebration with representatives of all Confessions, at the huge Cathedral of the city, full of Thousands of Young People aged 17-35, exceptionaly joined by the Population of the French Alsace and German Ortenau neighbouring areas.

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    - "EuroFora" observed that "in the project (about "New Solidarities") that Taizé has prepared for the period 2012-2015, there is a lot about "New Challenges"", facing Humanity today, (making even more crucial the ReUnification of Christians, as well as their cooperation with other Religions and agnostics, in order to find common ways to succesfully overcome such massive Aleas). "One of such New Challenges, which was also evoked during the 2011 official visit in Germany by Pope emeritus Benedict, (in his famous Speech) at the Bundestag, is what some call "Human Ecology", i.e. mainly BioEthical issues, which become more and more "Hot", by the advancement of Technologies" and their possible uses or abuses by some, "as well as by various Popular Movements recently spreading in France, but also in America, and elsewhere".

 - "Since you have adopted a Prospective view towards the Future, do you think that this kind of Concerns could become part of that Family of "New Challenges" that you (i.e. the European/International Taizé movement) evoke, concerning all Humankind ?", we asked "Taizé"s Head.
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    - "Indeed, these are serious Questions", replied positively from the outset, Brother Alois.

    - "And we see, more and more, that Young People feel affected by such New BioEthical Issues, by all such Changes which take place in the Society", the Head of "Taizé"'s European/International movement attested.

    - "We see that, particularly during  more Personal Contacts", he pointed out.

    - "Because these are Society Issues, but certain persons are affected very personally, so that they often come to Speak with you in particular" about that, he observed.

    + In addition, "we (Taizé) organize "Crossroads" meetings/debates, on some among those issues : One among such Big Questions is that of the relation between "Science and Faith"", Brother Alois pointed out, (a logo which figures also at the Historic Library of the Christian Seminar in Brixen/Bresanone, Italian city close to Austrian borders : Comp. "EuroFora"s NewsReports from the spot).                                     
    - Because, "it becomes more and more an Obstacle for Young People, when, f.ex.  Science advances in many areas, and goes very far, how could one believe in God, in such a situation ..?", he indicated as an example in practice, (while it's well known that, in fact, real and conscious of its crucial Responsibilities vis a vis Society, Humanistic Science can perfectly well go hand by hand with Human Values' driven Religions, such as Christianism, etc).

    => - "In consequence, such Issues affect the (Annual Taizés' European/International) gatherings", definitively replied to "EuroFora"s Question the Head of the "Taizé" Global movement.

    - "And (that's why) we (already) had some "Crossroads"' events/debates , (in Strasbourg),  both Yesterday and Today" (early Afternoons), he reminded in this regard, apparently pointing particularly at Public Debates organized quasi-simultaneously at various Workshops'   locations around Strasbourg, more or less such as those about "Human Rights", "Caring, curing and Healing ?", active involvement of Christians in the face of "Ecological Urgencies", and "our Origins : the point of view of an Astrophysicist",  etc.           

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                 BioEthical concerns, of growing crucial importance for all Humankind's present and Future, such as, f.ex. Genetic Manipulations of Human Embryos, Cloning, Tests on Humans, Artificial - Medically assisted Procreation, Eugenism, Same-Sex Mariage and Adoption of Children by Homosexuals, Subrogate Mothers, Medically assisted Death and Euthanasia, Brain Monitoring, Nano-Technologies, Regenerative Medicine and "Enhancement" methods, Organic Biology, etc., are among various New Issues on which late Pope John-Paul II had started to work and fight at an International (UNO) level, particularly during the Tragic and abrupt End of his legacy in 2004-5, when it was planned for him to visit EU Parliament and CoE in Strasbourg, further continued with a Strong Fight of Ideas by his long-time collaborator and successor, Pope emeritus Benedict, particularly on 2009-2/2013, which were also openly and officially endorsed and supported further in their essential points, by New Pope Francis, mainly since May 2013, (Comp. f.ex., just 1 Day earlier : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/2013europeancathedralsnight.html ).  

           
    + On August 2013, the former Chief of Germany's Christian Protestants and current Head of preparations for the 2017 Global event on 500 Years of Reformation's movement (1517 - 2017), Bishop Margot Kässmann, speaking to "EuroFora", clearly acknowledged the Importance of BioEthics (f.ex. on Genetic Manipulations, Brain Monitoring, etc), which raise Today serious questions on Human Dignity, Conscience, Liberty and Responsibility, and agreed that they should be included among the common Modern Challenges due to be Debated among Christian confessions during the next few years, "even if I don't know whether we shall agree on everything", as she told us with a careful smile, (See Infra, as well as the specific "EuroFora"s NewsReport, already sent earlier to Subscribers/Donors, and Comp. : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/christianprotestantleaderagainstarmedattackonsyria.html ). In addition, many growing Evangelist movements, f.ex. in France and even more in the USA, are well known and revendicate to be deeply committed in certain BioEthical Issues of great importance.

    As for Orthodox  Christians, f.ex. Historic former Russian Patriarch Alexy's famous denunciation of "Cyborg" a.o. Risks of abuse in BioTechnologies by some unscupulous Technocrats, during his landmark Speech at the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly in Strasboug back on 2007 , has left a legacy, added also to that of Popular former Greek Orthodox ArchBishop Christodoulos' many earlier Texts on various BioEthical questions, etc).

    - "Differences remaining in the expression of Faith", should "Not Divide us", nor make impossible "to express our Unity in Christ" : Because "there will always be Differences : Some will be normal Topics of Discussion, others may even be an Enrichment". But, meanwhile, "let us do with Christians of all other denominations All that it is possible to Do Together", not only "in a simple Prayer", but also by "coming Together in the Service of the Poorest", topically stressed later this Evening, at his Speech during an exceptional Ecumenical mass gathering in Strasbourg's Cathedral, together with Religious Leaders of German, French a.o. Christian confessions, Catholic, Protestants and Orthoodox, etc, the Head of "Taizé" popular European/International movement, while launching a vibrant Call to "make our Communion more Visible", by "bringing us Together in 1 Body", "all ... under the Same Roof", in order to "become better Able to Create a New Solidarity among Humans".
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        + Earlier, to a collegue's question if the Issues discussed during each Annual European gathering change recently , or remain mainly always the same, Brother Alois replied in substance that, "as we see during the "Crossroads"' debates organized during Afternoons, Young People want some "very Concrete Issues", f.ex. "what to do in front of Unemployment, how to face Immigration, or Questions on Faith, etc., and they want to Know the Local Situation in each (National) Church, not only deal with International aspects, but also to know how Christians are living on the spot, how they are, what they are doing, etc. Such elements become more and more topical during all these latest years".

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+ on Early Christians and ReVitalization of Modern Church
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    + Meanwhile, "EuroFora" also asked Brother Alois if he found that "Taizé"s proclamed aim to help "ReVitalize" the  Church as a whole, i.e. by United, "Ecumenical" actions, could take as one among various useful examples also the "Early Christians", who had been United even in front of Harsh Persecutions at the beginning  ?

 - "Oh yes", replied positively the Head of the European/International Ecumenical movement to "EuroFora"s question, on whether Early Christians "could be a source of Inspiration also for the Future".

=> - In particular, "it's already the Acts of the Apostles (i.e. Historic Texts reportedly written as early as since the late 1st Century AC, in "common", i.e. simplified, International version of Greek language), which remain a principal source of Inspiration on how the Church could live Today", he observed in this regard.

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"Taizé" in 2014 : from Strasbourg's EU/CoE HQ

to the Hearts of Europe + America : Texas/Mexico/Cuba + Prague
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     Topically, the move by the Head of the European/International Ecumenical popular Christian movement came the same Day that he announced to the Press "Taizé"s plans for the foreseable Future, including to hold Next Year 2014 two series of interesting collective meetings both at the Heart of Europe : Prague (for the Annual European gathering on December/January), and at the Heart of America : Texas and Mexico, followed by Haiti, Puerto Rico, Cuba, etc, (See specific "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

    On this occasion, "EuroFora", asked the famous Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Dominik Dukas, whether the planned December 2014 - Januray 2015 "Taizé" European Event in the capital of Czechoslovakia, (as close to Strasbourg as Paris), might, eventually, revisit at least the main Ideas of a landmark Speech pronounced by the leaders of the Czech, Slovak and Hungarian Churches at an exceptional Ceremony co-organized with the then Vatican's representative to the CoE, Aldo Giordano, (currenly new Nonce at Uruguay, fro which New Pope Francis has just selected also the New Vatican's "Prime Minister" in Rome), and many Ambassadors to the CoE by numerous European Countries, from Norway and the Netherlands up to Russia, etc, and other Euro-Politicians and/or Top Officials , during Spring 2013 at Strasbourg's Cathedral, which had specially focused on Europe's current problems, potential and prospects.

    Then, Prague's message had mainly denounced, in substance, the fact that, Today, the real Threats from Ennemis of Europe are no more addressed only from the Outside, (as, f.ex. during the 1.453 Ottoman-Turkish Military Invasion and Occupation of the Capital of the 1st Christian Empire in History : Byzance's Constantinople), but, now, even "from Inside", (i.e., in a hidden/disguised form, also from somewhere in certain Bureaucratic meanders of EU/COE Institutions, where "fake" Europeans sometimes Undermine real Europe's Values, Identity and/or Potential).

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    - ArchBishop Dukas reminded, in reply to "EuroFora"s question, that, indeed, last May in Strasbourg, the CoE and Vatican had commemorated together the Anniversary of Historic Missionaires, Saints "Cyrile and Methode", who had spread both Christianism and Language writting and speaking skills from Byzance throughout all Central-Eastern Europe, including Ukraine and Russia :

    - "This Ecumenical celebration" was "very important for us", stressed Mgr Dukas, (who had notoriously been condemned, by some declining former Brejniev regime's Technocrats, to abandon his Religious Studies and Functions, but work as a Cleaner of Windows and/or in a Glass Factory for 15 Years, and, therefore, felt personaly very well what Human Rights, Dignity and Freedom really meant )...

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    But Mgr. Dukas (who met, meanwhile, with Strasbourg's ArchBishop Grallet), abstained, with a kind but mysterious Smile, from either Confirming explicitly, or refusing "EuroFora"s suggestion to further develop and debate, during the Next "Taizé" 2014 European gathering at Prague, at least the main substance of that May 2013 Strasbourg event. As for "Taizé"s Head, Alois, he appeared interested, but carefully limited himself, at least for the moment, into simplying the question evoked by "EuroFora", and leaving it open for the future : I.e. could the Strasbourg's May 2013 CoE/Vatican event be discussed and reviewed at the Winter 2014 forthcoming Taizé European gathering at Prague ?

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    + Later on, Brother Alois, concluding his speech at the Ecumenical celebration in Strasbourg's cathedral, (a Symbolic key-point of this December 2013 European gathering, previously hailed even by EU's President Van Rompuy, and UNO's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, among many other Political or Religious Leaders), high-lightged even further the event's Global dimension, by mentioning the fact that, this time, the Event was attended also by representatives from more European Countries including even, Bielorussia, Russia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc., as well as more Young People also from other Continents, such as from "China, Korea, Kazakstan, Indonesia, Malesia, Philipines, Vietnam, Turkey, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Port-Rico and Dominican Republic", etc., as it was pointed out.