Eu news in brief

Cities, urban development and housing problems Three days devoted to urban development, “sustainable cities”, housing facilities and territorial planning. The 27 Member-State ministers in charge of housing, urban and cohesion policies gathered in Marseilles November 24-26. French Presidency-in-Office introduced the meeting’s objective: coordinating measures regarding the practical life of citizens along with housing policies, with […]

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CCEE-SECAM

Greater opening

An invitation to the European and African Christian communities to be “still more welcoming towards their foreign brothers, and recognize the value and contribution that immigrants make to their host countries”, but also to “take seriously the pastoral care of migrants, at all levels, from the hierarchies to the grassroots, creating offices and structures for […]

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SWITZERLAND

Communicating in the Cantons

In harmony with the federalist organization of Church life in Switzerland, the funding allocated for the pastoral care of the media is implemented especially at local level and in the Cantons. The Catholic central Conference of Switzerland and the Fastenopfer (Lent Sacrifice) – that with the Bishops’ Conference subsidizes the various institutes throughout the Confederation […]

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FRANCE

The reasons for dialogue

“Religious beliefs must not be understated as if they were moralist or archaic, people shouldn’t be discriminated on the basis of their religious beliefs. Religious values ought to play a role in the establishment of living standards, such as Sunday rest. Inter-confessional and interreligious meetings ought to be promoted at all levels: it’s important to […]

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FRANCE

Together for research

The distinction between the political and the religious sphere “must not leave the States, their institutions and legislation, with the ultimate responsibility of responding to the aspiration of persons, communities, and peoples” since its “consequences could prevent the establishment of a social order based on the dignity of the human person”. The 83rd Social Week […]

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SPAIN

Righteous concerns

While a judge from the court of Valladolid, Alejandro Valentin ruled that the crucifix be removed from the walls of the city’s public school “Macias Picavea” in compliance with the request of the Cultural Secular School Association, but opposing the stand of the school’s council (cf. Sir Daily, November 24-25), an event that sparked-off much […]

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Poland, Germany, The Netherlands

Poland: State and Church for the family A joint commission of the Polish government and episcopacy gathered a few days ago in Warsaw where a statement was issued in support of family policies. The document envisages family-subsidies increase along with initiatives aimed at preventing family conflicts and break-up. “The family is the main object of […]

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FRONT PAGE

Something is changing

Today religions constitute a hope and not a threat. What is being experienced in Europe is in fact the fruitfulness of the Word, the living memory of the Churches, and all this is indispensable to enable our societies to rediscover a safe compass for the decisions they take. In Europe, societies have had to come […]

di Jérome Vignon president of the Semaines Sociales de France

SFRUTTAMENTO SESSUALE MINORI: CONGRESSO UNICEF, "150 MILIONI DI BAMBINE E 73 DI BAMBINI"” “

"Lo sfruttamento sessuale lascia ai bambini cicatrici psicologiche e a volte anche fisiche e riduce le loro speranze di condurre una vita dignitosa. Nessun paese o regione è immune e non ci sono spettatori innocenti": così il direttore generale dell’Unicef Ann Veneman, in apertura del III Congresso mondiale a Rio de Janeiro contro lo sfruttamento […]

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VIOLENZA CONTRO LE DONNE: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, UNA CAMPAGNA PER COMBATTERE L’AIDS” “

In occasione della Giornata mondiale per l’eliminazione della violenza sulle donne, che si celebra oggi, la sezione italiana di Amnesty International ha lanciato una campagna in favore delle donne colpite da hiv/aids in Sudafrica. "Quello del Sudafrica è un tragico esempio del legame tra povertà e violenza. Se è vero che la violenza contro le […]

di Redazione