During its winter session, the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe, aware of:

  • the rise of the racism and the intolerance in Europe,
  • the seriously fatal importance for the democracy and the social cohesion which the speech of hatred takes on and its destructive consequences for the human dignity,
  • the role that the civil society has to play in Europe to fight it,

 decided the creation of a Workgroup on The fight against the speech of hatred.

How, as Christians, this question calls out and how to answer it? How the Church reacts? Our national associations are invited to feed the contribution of Pax Romana to this workgroup.

 The holy Writings and our pope François enlighten our way:

 Gospel of Jesus Christ according to saint Matthew – Chapter 5:

43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?

 

New Testament Letters of Saint-Paul apostle to the Galatians. Chapter 3:

26 For through faith you are all children of God  in Christ Jesus.

27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.

 

Message of Pope François for the 100th world day of the migrants and the refugees on January 19th, 2014, on the theme: ” migrants and refugees: towards a better world “:

 ” …/… for the face of each person bears the mark of the face of Christ! Here we find the deepest foundation of the dignity of the human person, which must always be respected and safeguarded. It is less the criteria of efficiency, productivity, social class, or ethnic or religious belonging which ground that personal dignity, so much as the fact of being created in God’s own image and likeness (cf. Gen 1:26-27) and, even more so, being children of God. Every human being is a child of God! He or she bears the image of Christ! …/ … “

 

As a preliminary step, to establish a “current situation” of our implication in the fight against the speech of hatred, you will find in appendix a questionnaire which you are cordially invited to return, duly completed after consultation of your national association in: philippe.grolleau@gmx.fr:

· For Thursday, April 24th, 2014 at the latest