Religion and society: evangelisation, politics, secularisation and new spiritualities

At the invitation of theEuropean Popular Group ( EPP), the Dean of Theology, Dr Francisco Ramírez, SJ, attended the 25th Meeting on Intercultural Dialogue with Churches and Religious Institutions on 4 and 5 December. The People's Group, the largest of the five groups in the European Parliament, is the only one to have a permanent group dedicated to this dialogue.

The Dean took part in one of the three dialogue tables, which were attended by prominent members and representatives of the Christian churches, Islam and European Judaism. Among others, Archbishop Francisco José Prieto of Santiago de Compostela, Archbishop Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Ecumenical Patriarch, and Bishop Mariano Crociata, President of the Commission of the European Bishops' Conferences to the European Union, etc., took part in the meeting. European parliamentarians from almost all the countries of the European Union were present at the dialogue. The meeting was opened by EPP spokesperson Dolors Montserrat.

On Tuesday, at the dialogue table, together with Dean Francisco Ramirez, were Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle O.P., Director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the U.P. St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Rabbi Levi Matusof, Director of the European Jewish Public Affairs, Dr. Timo Aytaç Güzelmansur, Director General of the Department of the German Bishops' Conference for dialogue with Muslims, and Fr Friedrich Bechina, former Undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education.

In his speech on Tuesday, 5 December, Dean Francisco Ramírez Fueyo addressed themes such as dialogue in evangelisation, the presence of religion in society, and the process of secularisation and "desecularisation" in Europe. He highlighted the influence of religion in politics, and how religious values are reflected in the daily lives and decisions of individuals and societies. Furthermore, he mentioned the relevance, according to surveys and experience, of new forms of spirituality and alternative beliefs in modern society, especially among young people. He concluded by highlighting the need for collaboration between political and religious institutions to promote the common good and social justice.

The roundtables are posted on YouTube in open access. Here is the round table of 4 December. The intervention of our Dean is also available in open access below:

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