David Fieldsend Prayer Circular (CARE for Europe)
David Fieldsend Prayer Circular (CARE for Europe)
Leading the Battle of the Bulge Remembrance Ceremonies I found a very moving experience. I had not expected that there would be surviving servicemen who had participated in the Battle there. Everything became shockingly real when one of them asked to say a few words by the last memorial (to the Highland Regiment) of the day. What were mere names carved in stone he brought alive as he vividly remembered his former comrades, then with tears in his eyes recounted harrowingly how they had died. I did not need much persuading to agree to officiate again next year. I am attaching a photo. The visit of the CARE interns was as enjoyable as ever and seems again to have been well appreciated, although I found there growing numbers (around 30 now) difficult to handle when shepherding them between appointments. The Warsaw World Congress of Families was encouraging as is every visit to Poland, especially the passionate supporting contributions from the current Polish Government from the President downwards. Anne was also able to join me on the trip for once and make her first visit behind the old iron curtain. Shortly before the Congress a small group of secularist MEPs (just 18) wrote an open letter to the press criticising the Congress organisers and labelling them as extremists, fundamentalists and homophobes. The letter was widely reported, giving the impression that this was the view of the overwhelming majority of MEPs. By the grace of God we managed collect 104 signatures of MEPs representing 21 Member States in just 48 hours on an alternative letter congratulating the Congress organisers and encouraging them to keep up the good work. This letter the press totally ignored.
Other events during May, including my walking weekend with my sons and the CARE for Europe AGM also went well. At the latter I was encouraged by our chairman to be persistent even thought the political results over the past year have been disappointing. CARE have affirmed their confidence in me by offering to sponsor my taking a part-time Masters course in Bioethics at the nearby Catholic University of Leuven. Having functioned as a bioethics “expert” over the past five years I can see the sense in getting a proper qualification and am sure my work here could benefit from the study involved. However, the prospect of going back to being a student is a little daunting, and I was a little thrown when trying to fill in the online application form for the course to discover that the software would not accept any dates before 31st. December 1969!
With warmest Christian greetings,