With the freemasons
They are all dressed in black, imposing, straight, grave.
They belong to different lodges. Some of them came from far away.
I feel we need to be more familiar, that I need to let me be
welcome. That will happen progressively during the discussion,
with more humanity between us. The meal will achieve this by
bringing some fraternity and joy to the meeting.
During the evening, listening to their questions, I was telling
myself: what image of the Church do they have? Likely an image
of a Church imposing its power on the people, making them suffering…
As always you make your own personality through the dialogue
with others, by meeting the other, I become myself. I need them
and they need me. At the end, a freemason confided in me: "You
brought me closer to the Church".
| The Adda' Wa mosque in Paris |
 |
I am invited every year to attend the daily break of fasting
during the Ramada at the cultural center of the Adda'Wa mosque.
300 people gather in a well-decorated room. The meeting presents
an ecumenical character not only for the Jews, Christians and
Moslems who are attending and also that they are representatives
from cultural and political associations.
It is a pleasure to meet again the Rector of the mosque, Larbi
Kechat, a long time friend. I appreciate his faith in God, his
attitude of respect for the others and his tolerance.
After an excellent couscous meal, the speakers intervene on the
theme: "For a responsible citizenship" I chose
to speak about those who have no access to a citizenship.
During this friendly evening, I was thinking about those who
are afraid of Islam, they sometimes ask me to be careful about
it. I would like them to be there to discover another face of
Islam, an Islam offering a climate of respect and tolerance easy
to live with.
Turbulence
In Evreux or elsewhere I continue to be in a turbulent area.
A pedophile priest is a very serious affair and we know that
a young boy has been his victim. This young boy was courageous
in breaking the wall of silence and went to seek justice. With
his family, the diocese of Evreux, I am very saddened. Having
accepted this priest from Quebec in the diocese, and having given
him the responsibility of a parish, it is normal that I am on
the front line. The media took over this affair. With my lawyer
we wrote on December 8, 2000 a press release describing how the
decision was taken:
"Before deciding to welcome Denis Vadeboncoeur in Evreux,
I received some incomplete pieces of information on his short
term jail sentence in Quebec.
I put trust in this priest who really wanted to start a new life.
With the agreement of his religious superior and my episcopal
council, Denis Vadeboncoeur was then accepted into the diocese.
It is only later that I received more detailed information. Nevertheless,
looking at his will to be reintegrated and the lack of criticism
from his parishioners, I did not think it necessary to come back
on my decision to accept him.
These last years, public opinion has been very sensitive about
pedophilia. And it is much better. We understand better the damage
brought by the acts of pedophilia to the young. Our responsibility
has become greater on this matter. My thinking has changed and
today I will not take the same decision.
 |
A demonstration in front of the Santé jail in Paris. |
143 prisoners from Basque, Brittany and Corsica are dispersed
in 28 French jails. They are separated from each other and far
from their families.
This situation breaks the relationship of the prisoners with
their original cultural and social environment, they become psychologically
isolated. Living far away and having to pay for costly traveling,
their families are also penalized.
The United Nations resolutions and the European Council had stated
that prisoners should be kept close to their families to maintain
and improve their relationships, but nothing is done.
We are facing the great wall of the jail on the other side of
the street, displaying our banners. The police are there but
leave us alone. On the upper floors, prisoners are watching us
from behind bars. Through a loud speaker I speak to them, there
is a huge clamor of response. A strange kind of communication
but it has the advantage to tell them that they are not forgotten.
An evening discussion with students
Read also the story about "Homosexuality" from May 1998
A Gay association has been set up in a University close to
Versailles. It is a premiere. This association organized an evening
discussion on homosexuality and religions. Is there a room for
homosexuals in religious communities? The lecture room is full.
I am with a Protestant minister and the co-chairmen of "David
and Jonathan" association of homosexual Christians.
The meeting is very interesting. Every body should listen to
what was said. One does not choose to be homosexual: you have
to accept it. A homosexual is not at all responsible of his/her
sexual orientation that comes to him/her in his/her earliest
years. By stating that heterosexuality is the unique expression
of a "normal" sexuality has the consequence to make
homosexuality a new heresy, a deviance.
The Bible does not speak much about homosexuality but only to
severely condemn it.
The Church is blamed for mixed attitudes: keep to the doctrine
and be compassionate. One can be compassionate in practice but
doctrine should be safe. This way makes people feel guilty.
Homosexuality raises question because it is different. Is it
taken into account? Why not recognize that happiness and mutual
respect can exist in homosexuality? This evening discussion has
to be followed.