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UNIONE EUROPEA

“Ma l’Unione europea ha bisogno dell’Islanda?”. La domanda, diretta, brusca e forse un po’ retorica, risuona nelle sedi europee. Sorge dal voto per il rinnovo del Parlamento di Reykjavik. L’isola dei ghiacci si affida infatti a una coalizione di partiti di centrodestra (conservatori e liberali, in totale 38 seggi su 63), entrambi fortemente euroscettici, e […]

GERMANIA

“La presenza della Chiesa nella società e nello Stato”. È il titolo del simposio organizzato congiuntamente dalla Conferenza episcopale tedesca (Dbk) e dal Comitato centrale dei cattolici tedeschi (Zdk) a Berlino tra il 18 e il 19 aprile presso la Katholische Akademie. Tema del convegno era il rapporto tra Stato e Chiesa, con particolare attenzione […]

CHIESE IN BREVE

Italia: verso la Settimana Sociale La famiglia, “prima e vitale cellula della società”, “possiede una specifica e originaria dimensione sociale”. Lo ricorda il Documento preparatorio per la 47ª Settimana Sociale dei cattolici italiani (Torino, 12-15 settembre 2013), presentato il 30 aprile a Roma. Obiettivo del Documento, per il presidente del Comitato scientifico e organizzatore delle […]

CHURCHES IN BRIEF

Being for Europe, being for life In Poland we say: “If you’re European, you have to be pro-life”, remarked the national coordinator of the “One of Us” campaign Jakub Baltroszewicz. Poland is the first country that reached the minimum required threshold of 38.250 signatures supporting the introduction of a ban on the destruction of human […]

CHURCHES IN BRIEF

Italy: towards the Social Weeks The family, “first vital cell of society”, “has a specific original social dimension”.The claim is underlined in the preparatory Document for the 47th Social Weeks of Italian Catholics (Turin, September 12-15 2013), presented on April 30 in Rome. The purpose of the Document, is to “prompt a debate on the […]

EDITORIAL" "" "

The last “European” war was waged in these territories in the last years of the past millennium. Since then, Kosovo’s destiny remained an open wound for Pristine and Belgrade’s governments, and an obstacle to Brussels’ EU enlargement plans towards the South-East of the continent. Enlargement towards the Balkan countries is important t not only in […]

SLOVENIA

Over the past weeks Europe’s attention has been focused on the Balkans. The agreement signed on Monday April 22 in Brussels between Serbia and Kosovo gave the kick off to a new stage for Balkan countries, strengthened by Croatia’s EU accession next July 1st. How are these changes perceived in Slovenia, the first Balkan Country […]

ONE OF US

First point: raising conscience-awareness at individual and collective levels. Second: to take action and involve at least one million citizens. Third: to follow the developments of the institutional proposal. These are the three stages of each “European citizens’ initiative” (ECI), the new institution for participatory democracy provided for the Lisbon Treaty, which came into force […]

CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "

Czech Republic: beatification of Fr. Josef ToufarThe Czech Bishops’ Conference approved the beginning of the diocesan phase of the beatification process of Fr. Josef Toufar during this week’s plenary session in Prague. “Fr. Toufar has been venerated by the faithful in Czech Republic since his death, which is very important in the process”, says Mons. […]

EUROPEAN UNION" "

“Does the European Union need Iceland?” The bold, direct and perhaps rhetorical question is echoed in the seats of European institutions. It springs from results of the national elections for the renewal of Reykjavik’s Parliament. Iceland opted for guidance by a right-winged party coalition (conservatives and liberals, 38 seats out of 63, both fervent Eurosceptics), […]