Redazione

European Union" "

NATO’s “Agenda for change” was fully endorsed at its recent summit in Prague: this is the agenda by which the alliance pledged to reform NATO’s composition, capability and instruments to tackle the new challenges of the present and future (cf. SirEurope no.42 of 21 November 2001). Apart from having “invited” Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, […]

The plenary assembly of German Catholic Action (ZdK) was held at Bonn-Bad Godesberg from 22 to 23 November. Issues on the agenda were the European constitution, the social policies of the Schröder government and the defence of life. In particular, Hans Joachim Meyer, ZdK president, criticized the lack of a clear position on the defence […]

The three bishops responsible for the maritime apostolate in Spain, Portugal and France have denounced those responsible for the environmental and social disaster caused by the sinking of the oil tanker “Prestige” off the Galician coast, pointing their finger firmly against “a minority of powerful businesses, coalitions of interest and mafia-like ways of conducting affairs”, […]

With “great relief” the Swiss bishops heard the news of the defeat of the popular referendum asking for further restrictions on the right to asylum. In a statement issued after the results were announced, the bishops reaffirmed “their support for a policy of solidarity towards foreigners and refugees”. On Sunday 24th, the Swiss people were […]

“Nato’s retention of nuclear weapons violates moral and legal responsibility and represents a threat for global security”. So says the WCC in a letter sent to Nato on 14 November. Signed by the head of the WCC’s “Churches and international affairs” Commission, the letter makes reference to a sentence of the International Court of Justice […]

A Christmas reeling from the shock of terrorist attacks in Bali and Moscow, seared by the conflict in the Middle East, and lived in the fear of new natural disasters. This, combined with an appeal not to “follow blindly those who promise and propose security” to the detriment of solidarity, but to “break the vicious […]

If the Christian Churches in Europe, and in particular the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, “speak together, their voice is stronger, and their voice is more listened to if they speak in favour of justice. It’s an issue on which there are no theological differences and on which we can give an example that […]

ecumenism" "

The 25th European youth meeting animated by the Taizé ecumenical community will be held in Paris from 28 December to 1st January. Tens of thousands of youngsters from all over Europe (some 70,000 attended last year’s meeting in Budapest) will be given hospitality in over 100 parishes in the Ile-de-France. Returning to the sources of […]

Sunni Moslems, Shiites, Ismailis… they all celebrate Ramadan in the same period. It’s an occasion for sharing and dialogue. With approximately 2 million Moslems (concentrated in the big cities such as London, but also in Bradford, Leicester and in Scotland) out of a total population of 60 million, Great Britain has long come to terms […]

It is estimated that 2,400,000 Moslems are living in Germany, subdivided into immigrants from Turkey ( c.1,920,000), Iran ( c.115,000), the Middle East ( c.95,000), Africa ( c.143,000) and Asia ( c.127.000). The majority of them live in the western part of the country; only some 60.000 Moslems live in the former East Germany. Several […]