Thomas Jansen - Germany

EDITORIAL

The unification and the building of Europe is a long and complex process that requires patience and understanding towards the partners and the neighbours that are part of this process. The serious crisis that has hit the European Union brings related difficulties to the fore. The risk of giving up and relinquishing all hopes that […]

SPAIN

“Each citizen must value, in conscience, which candidate they will vote bearing in mind everyone’s utmost benefit today”. This is the appeal of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (Conferencia episcopal española, Cee), for the next general elections, due to take place November 20. For the next elections. In a note released on October 21, at the […]

EU PARLIAMENT

Although the economic and financial crisis and the definition of the EU budget for 2012 play a primary role, the European Parliament gathered in plenary meeting October 24-27 addressed many other items that tackle important social issues. These include social mobility, the placement of people with disabilities in the work environment and the situation of […]

EUROPEAN UNION

The media’s depiction of the European Council and of the Eurogroup of October 23, including the “tail” of the reunions, scheduled to take place October 26, is accurate in content but with blurred details. EU27 leaders convened to discuss various items, that included the response to the problem of the sovereign debt of some EU […]

ECUMENISM

Austria’s Metropolitan Orthodox bishop Michael Staikos died on October 18 in Vienna after a long illness. Of Greek nationality, in Austria since 1964, Michael Staikos was elected Metropolitan of Austria and Exarch of Hungary in 1991 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the highest representative of the Orthodox Church in this central-European country. […]

CHURCH AND EUROPE (10)

With an interview with Mgr. Ferenc Cserháti, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest (Hungary), SIR Europe is continuing its special feature dedicated to the reflections of European bishops on the process of European integration and on the Church’s thought on the European common home (cfr SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66-67-69/2011).What beliefs and expectations do catholics have […]

CHURCHES IN BRIEF

Portugal: CNIS, fiscal measures and solidarity are positive signsThe president of the national Confederation of Solidarity Institutions (CNIS), Fr Lino Maia, welcomed the measures provided for in the 2012 national Budget, announced a few days ago by Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, intended to cut taxes on Public Institutions for Social Solidarity (IPSS). In […]

CARD. ANGELO BAGNASCO

"Un lavoro può essere ambito in rapporto al guadagno, al potere, al prestigio, alla fama che procura, ma non sarà dignitoso se chiede al lavoratore di rinunciare ai valori che rendono la vita degna di essere vissuta: guadagnare la vita ma perdere le ragioni del vivere è indegno dell’uomo perché non lo realizza nella sua […]

MIGRANTI E RIFUGIATI

"L’ora presente chiama la Chiesa a compiere una nuova evangelizzazione anche nel vasto e complesso fenomeno della mobilità umana, intensificando l’azione missionaria sia nelle regioni di primo annuncio, sia nei Paesi di tradizione cristiana": lo scrive Benedetto XVI nel messaggio per la 98ª Giornata mondiale del migrante e del rifugiato (15 gennaio 2012) su "Migrazioni […]

ASSISI 2011

La macchina organizzativa è pronta e l’intera città di Assisi è in pieno fermento per la Giornata di riflessione, dialogo e preghiera per la pace e la giustizia nel mondo che si terrà giovedì 27 ottobre nella città di San Francesco. "Assisi – si legge in un comunicato del Sacro Convento – si sta preparando […]