Frank Turner" "Secretary of the Bishops' Conference " "of England and Wales" "" "

editorial" "

When ten countries enter the European Union in May 2004, the EU will no longer be able to think of itself instinctively as part of the so-called “West”. Even now, in its form “enlarged” to fifteen member states, the EU possesses a cultural heritage in large part held in common, in spite of the fact […]

press review" "

Morocco, Chechnya, Israel and Saudi Arabia: these are the countries targeted by terrorists after the end of the war in Iraq. The American press in particular has devoted its attention to the new wave of terrorist attacks. In recent days it has dedicated banner headlines to what US President Bush has once again called the […]

“The current commitment of the regional councils is aimed at the countries of south-east Europe close to entering the EU”: so said Luigi Fedele (Italy), member of the standing Committee of the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CERLA), in a speech to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in recent days. Fedele announced that […]

The general affairs and external relations Council, meeting in Brussels on 19-20 May, sanctioned the birth of the first European army in the framework of the European policy for security and defence. 60,000 troops, available within 60 days – the so-called ‘rapid reaction force’ – will be at service both of the EU’s defensive operations […]

EU in brief" "

The European Parliament met in plenary session in Strasbourg from 12 to 15 May. The week was eventful. The parliamentary assembly officially welcomed for the first time 159 of the 162 observer deputies from the ten countries that recently signed their membership Treaties: they will participate in all the work of the commissions and in […]

The annual Days of the Protestant Federation of mutual assistance – an umbrella organization representing some 800 associations and institutions in the welfare and health care sectors – were held in Toulouse (France) in recent weeks. The events included a meeting in which 170 representations of member associations and federations met together for three days […]

A hundred or so people joined together in Strasbourg to read the Bible aloud, in alternation, from 12 to 18 May. The “Bible marathon” forms part of the “Bible Year” currently in progress in France, and was promoted by the local Mennonite Church. Founded in the 16th century as part of the Protestant Reformation, the […]

A group of twenty or so Catholic and Orthodox theologians from all over the world is meeting behind closed doors in the Vatican till Saturday 24 May to discuss the primacy of Peter, one of the main obstacles to ecumenical dialogue. Promoted by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, the […]

ecumenism" "

The Oecumenische Kirchentag, the ecumenical Church Congress promoted jointly by German Catholics and Protestants together with other Christian confessions (cf.SirEurope no.33/2003), is due to open shortly in Berlin. Over 150,000 visitors are expected to attend it, in large part young people from seventy or so different countries, including many “religionslos” (people of no religion). They […]

A modern facsimile of the breviary of Sister Cika ( c.1060), a cheque containing a sum of money collected during Lent this year, that will serve for the purchase of equipment for the local hospital, and a bouquet of flowers. These are the gifts that the archdiocese of Zadar will deliver to John Paul II […]