Press Release | The COVID-19 crisis unveiled the rock of people’s lives: the family
Brussels, 5 June 2020
“The current pandemic has reminded to all of us that the rock of people’s lives is in the family”: in this way FAFCE’s President, Vincenzo Bassi, welcomes the joint message released by the Presidencies of CCEE and COMECE on the occasion of their annual meeting: “Let’s all work together for a recovery that leaves no one behind”. They stressed the central role played by the family, “the true cell of solidarity and sharing, but also a place to pray together. Investing in the family – they stated – is the first step towards a just social, economic and ecclesial recovery“.
“In fact, during this crisis, many have suffered. But all those who were far from their family or did not have one, have suffered in a particularly strong way – Vincenzo Bassi continued. We support the CCEE and COMECE Presidencies call for the re-establishment of normal State-Church relations based on dialogue and respect for fundamental rights and join ourselves in their special thanks to many priests for their generous service during this period, as close as possible to the reality of many families and of many persons who experienced loneliness and exclusion. Family Associations in Europe are at the service of the common good at the national and European levels to rebuild hope for our communities“.
Since the beginning of this public health crisis FAFCE has been highlighting the fundamental role of the family. In its last Board Resolution, FAFCE highlighted that “In the context of the current pandemic, families are in the front line”, asking to invest “in the family and in its human and social capital to move away from the crisis and creating a new starting point for Europe: epochal crises require historic choices, this is the moment to rethink the way we work, the way we take care of elderly people, the way we value the role of the family and the different structures of solidarity in Europe”.
The Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) are the two bodies gathering all European Catholic Bishops. FAFCE has a fruitful and continuous cooperation with both the structures. The text of their message is also available in French, German and Italian.
