Redazione

The European Parliament recently intervened on the question of biotechnologies, the ‘patentability’ of human cloning and research on stem cells. On 26 October the EP adopted a “resolution” that underlines the importance of these areas of research, but at the same time stresses the legal uncertainty about whether or not some applications can be patented. […]

european union" "

“Europe is a community of values, to be defended, but also to be re-interpreted in a rapidly changing scenario. In this sense EU legislation and policies are called to come to terms with ethics”, says EMMANUE L Agius. He is one of the 15 members of the European Group for Ethics in Science and the […]

review of ideas " "

The Islamic world has a need for an “Enlightenment”; it needs to experience a form of secularism “that still does not exist, unless in those Muslims educated in Western culture”, and attempt an “historical reading of the Koran” that would interpret the Book as “an historical document, written by a human being”, suggests Samir Khalil […]

A supply of clean water, six chickens to ensure a daily provision of fresh eggs rich in protein to help a family to overcome poverty, a cow, a sheet and plastic netting to protect against malaria: these are some of the Christmas gifts of the UK to the poor of over 70 developing countries. CAFOD, […]

The German Bishops’ Conference is to hold a solemn ceremony at Mainz on 12 November to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the “Anwerbervertrag”, the accord between Germany and Italy on the sending of Italian manpower to Germany to help in the reconstruction. The press release issued by the Bishops’ Conference in recent days announces the […]

The Spanish bishops issued a statement on 3 November to repudiate some “false information” published by a Spanish daily, in which it is stated that the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (SBC) had reached an agreement with the Spanish government on the LOE, the new organic law on education now being debated, which does not satisfy the […]

France " "

Hundreds of cars were torched and tens of buses destroyed in an arson attack on a bus depot. Five policemen were wounded by stones thrown by youths, and numerous arrests made. There have been nights of violence in the suburbs of Paris and also in other areas in France in recent days. The stage of […]

Charles de Foucauld" "

On Sunday 13 November Pope Benedict XVI will beatify Charles de Foucauld, the great French explorer and witness to the Gospel among the Tuareg of the Sahara. Born at Strasbourg on 15 September 1858, he led a roving life that led him to the countries of North Africa: Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco. Then followed his religious […]

front page" "

We publish the text of the “Lyon Declaration”: a “charter” for peace, approved in recent days by Signis, the world Catholic association for communication, on the occasion of its assembly convened in the French city. On 9 November the assembly will proceed to the approval of some amendments to its statutes, and to the election […]

La travagliata formazione della Grande coalizione tedesca che perde pezzi per strada è al centro dei commenti tedeschi. Su Die Welt (2/11), Roger Köppel annota: “ L’apparato politico tedesco tradisce i segni di un pollaio. La grande coalizione perde i propri leader. […] Quel che è degno di nota è il grado di presunzione personale […]