Redazione

European Union " "

The composition of the Convention’s Presidium has been finalized: Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (F), President; Giuliano Amato (I), Vice-President; Jean-Luc Dehaene (B), Vice-President; Representatives of the Governments; Ana de Palacio (E), Henning Christophersen (DK), Giorgos Katiforis (GR); Representatives of the Commission: Michel Barnier (F), Antonio Vitorino (P); Representatives of the European Parliament: Klaus Hänsch (D-PSE), Iñigo […]

On 3rd March, Swiss citizens will vote for the second time on whether they want Switzerland to join the United Nations: an option they had rejected en masse in 1986. It should however be pointed out that Switzerland has enjoyed the status of observer since 1948. The UN and the international organizations are the main […]

The president and vice-president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference were elected for the three-year period 2002-2005 by the general Assembly of the Spanish bishops (being held in Madrid till 1st March) on 26 February. Cardinal Antonio-Maria Rouco Varela, archbishop of Madrid, was reconfirmed in the post of president, while Msgr. Fernando Sebastian Aguilar, archbishop of […]

Greater “attention to the voluntary choice of families”, more “dignity” for the discipline of religious education in schools, more commitment to the “requalification” of teachers: these, in short, are the main requests made by Catholic teachers of religion in Italy to the world of education and the process of reform now underway. The occasion for […]

“The cohabitation of homosexuals, though it may be registered before a public official, cannot have juridical effects similar to those of marriage between heterosexuals”. This is the sense of a memorandum of 26 February in which the Swiss bishops express their reasoned evaluation of a “preliminary draft for a new federal law concerning the registered […]

“Tracing the ‘space’ of the united Europe, proposing new forms of civil participation to the Europeans, and questioning Europe’s role in the world”: these are “the main questions that need to be tackled today”, according to the President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski. In Rome for a state visit, the Polish President had […]

Germany" "

Many problems were tackled by the plenary assembly of German bishops held in Stuttgart from 18 to 21 February under the presidency of Cardinal Karl Lehmann. The issues discussed included recent developments in the field of bioethics; the role of Catholic marriage counsellors; the new developments in the pastoral care of the armed services; the […]

Spain" "

“I was a stranger and you made me welcome” is the theme of the Day for Latin America that the Spanish Church is celebrating on 3 March. On the problems and challenges posed by immigration we interviewed Pilar Samanes , coordinator of the pastoral service for immigrants of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. Sister Pilar is […]

Islam

“Interreligious Dialogue – The Teaching of the Catholic Church”, the new book of Msgr. Kevin McDonald, chairman of the episcopal committee for dialogue with other faiths, was presented in London on 28 February. The participants at the book launch also included Father Justo Lacunza Balda , director of PISAI (Pontificial Institute of Arab and Islamic […]

The issue of women priests has split the Anglican Church in the UK, but now has become a reality. We checked out the situation of women in the Catholic Church and discovered that the role of women is being increasingly promoted both in the Catholic community of England and in that of Wales. This is […]