CNE’s podcast: Christmas tree at the Vatican, state inspection in Dutch Sunday schools, and hell in Norway
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NewsRound Europe is CNE’s news podcast. It has a bulletin with some remarkable news topics from the European continent. And at the end, we have a Question & Answer with a colleague about an article.
Pro-life petition goes sky-high
Tens of thousands in Norway signed the petition against the extension of abortion. According to the new government plan, abortion should be possible until week 18, instead of the present week 12 of the pregnancy.
A petition against this bill from the pro-life organisation Menneskeverd was successful from the start. Within 24 hours, the appeal received more than 14,000 signatures. At the moment, this number has grown above 45,000. The organisation is surprised by its success, which is reported in the Christian press in Norway. Several famous Christian people are hired to support the campaign.
The main problem of Menneskeverd is that the bill removes the legal protection of the foetus. Above this, the new bill does not prescribe the discussion of an alternative for women interested in an abortion.
The bill is expected to be voted on in early December. The proposal will likely be adopted, but Menneskeverd warns that the margins are uncertain. Individual votes can be decisive.
Dutch state inspection at Sunday schools
The Dutch Secretary of Education launched an internet consultation on a bill that regulates state supervision of informal education. Many churches and other religious organisations are expected to respond to this consultation since this bill would allow education inspectors to visit Sunday schools or catechism classes.
Inspecting Koran weekend schools is an old political plan from the previous government. This new coalition also thinks it necessary to have the option to inspect informal education that is not organised by the state.
The reason for developing this bill was that weekend schools in mosques were said to abuse religious freedom by setting the children up against democratic values. Also, antisemitism is believed to come from those private Muslim schools.
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But especially Reformed and evangelical churches in the Netherlands are afraid that the state will use this bill to prevent the teaching of what they see as Biblical ethics regarding marriage and sexuality. Also, the three Christian parties in the Dutch parliament have spoken themselves out against this plan. They think this is going against the constitutional freedom of education.
The internet consultation closes on January 7th, 2025.
No perdition at funerals
The Church of Norway is not sure about John 3,16 at funerals. At the moment, this well-known text is spoken at the beginning of a funeral liturgy. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The bishop of Oslo thinks that a funeral service is meant to surrender the dead person to God. The word “perish” could be interpreted by relatives as if a person can get lost, or that the buried person has gone to hell, the bishop says. And that should not be the goal of the funeral service. The aim of the liturgy at such a moment is meant to give hope, instead.
Officially, this liturgy is mandatory. But for those reasons mentioned, the church will not look too strictly at whether the liturgy’s letter is followed. Currently, the Lutheran Church of Norway is revising the liturgy anyway.
Come, marry in the church!
The Danish church tries to inspire more people to marry in the church. In all places and towns, the number of people marrying in the Lutheran people’s church is going down rapidly. More people choose to have a civil marriage nowadays.
The church in Skovlunde invited couples to the church to discuss a marriage service. “You learn here that there is something bigger than yourself”, the pastor said.
Apart from that, you don’t necessarily have to come to the church. You can also invite the priest in your own backyard or on the river’s shore. The bride does not even have to wear white but green. The bottom line is that “it can be something special to celebrate love in church”, the parish priest in Skovlunde says.
One couple that chose for a civil marriage 24 years ago, decided to come to church for a blessing over their silver wedding, next year.
Christmas tree in Vatican City; yes or no?
Will there be a Christmas tree in Vatican City this year? Well, not if it is up to the people of the Northern Italian city of Ledros. They supply a 200-year-old tree to the holy square before St Peter’s.
But environmental activists have sent an open letter to Pope Francis asking him to stop the felling of the tree. They call that a “useless sacrifice”. More than 40,000 people have signed the letter.
Local residents of Ledro are reportedly planning to block the transportation of the 29-metre-high tree. For the past 42 years, there has been such a tree on the vast square in Vatican City. However, this year, time will tell how sensitive the Pope is to the green values.
In several messages, Pope Francis has been very critical towards what he calls “climate deniers”. On the other hand, the mayor of the city of Ledros said that it is not good to “ruin Christmas festivities just for a plant.”
The erection of the tree is expected for December 9th.
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