POLAND

Church and secret services

The first results of the work of the Historical Commissions set up in all dioceses to conduct historical research on the period 1945-1990 and on the contacts of the Communist security services and churchmen are awaited at the end of February and early days of March. The first publications will concern the archdiocese of Krakow […]

di Redazione

Czech Republic: a pilgrimage to Aachen

“Come and see”: this passage from John’s Gospel is the motto of a pilgrimage of Catholics from the Czech Republic to Aachen and Kornelimünster (30 May to 4 June) to visit relics said to be those of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. This is a traditional pilgrimage that has taken place […]

di Redazione

Russia: in memory of Msgr. Bernardo Antonini

On 27 March, to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of the apostolic protonotary Msgr. Bernardo Antonini, who lived in Russia for over a decade, a ceremony of commemoration will be held in the archdiocese of Our Lady in Moscow. The ceremony will be opened by a mass celebrated in the Catholic cathedral. This […]

di Redazione

England: gay adoptions, “deeply disappointed”

“We are deeply disappointed that no exemption will be granted to our agencies on the grounds of widely held religious conviction and conscience”, declares Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, in a statement released after the decision of the Prime Minister to grant no exemption to Catholic organizations in the […]

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FRONT PAGE

What signal for life?

A referendum is due to be held in Portugal on 11 February, calling for a liberalization of abortion up to the tenth week of pregnancy (the law now in force only permits abortion if there is danger for the life or health of the mother; if the child will be affected by grave and incurable […]

di Pedro Vaz Patto Portugal

EUROPEAN UNION

Together for 50 years

Not only history, politics and institutions; but also youth, schools, culture and local authorities. The fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the European Economic Community (Eec) and of the European Community of Atomic Energy (Euratom) falls on 25 March: the Eu is arranging various events to celebrate this important birthday. The more “predictable” commemorations, of […]

di Redazione

COMECE

Between fears and hopes

On 30 January, the Committee of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament, currently drafting a legislative framework for so-called innovative therapies, approved a report by the Polish deputy Miroslav Mikolašik (Epp), in response to the legislative proposal of the European Commission. “The plenary will have to express its view on […]

di Redazione

CHIESA: CARD. TOPPO (INDIA), ANCHE SE MINACCIATI "NOI RESTIAMO"

La Chiesa dell’India è minacciata quotidianamente dai fondamentalisti, mentre in Burundi, pur essendo un Paese a maggioranza cattolica, "si combatte ancora la violenza e la fame". Molti gli argomenti della conferenza stampa che si è svolta oggi a Roma in occasione del 31° Convegno dei vescovi amici del Movimento dei Focolari, subito dopo l’incontro con […]

di Redazione

EUTANASIA: ARIS, L’OBIEZIONE DI COSCIENZA DEVE RIMANERE UN DIRITTO

"Sarebbe inaccettabile, oltrechè una vera e propria ingiustizia, anche soltanto la proposta di imporre agli ospedali cattolici l’obbligo di praticare l’eutanasia dinnanzi ad una precisa richiesta del malato". E’ la reazione di Mario Bonora, presidente dell’Aris (Associazione religiosa istituti sociosanitari), al pacchetto di proposte avanzato dalla Commissione giustizia della Camera sul testamento biologico. "Se infatti […]

di Redazione

UNIONI DI FATTO: FORUM FAMIGLIE SU REVERSIBILITÀ, "COME UN ROBIN HOOD ALLA ROVESCIA"

"Come un Robin Hood alla rovescia si toglie alla famiglia per dare alle unioni di fatto". È il commento del Forum delle associazioni familiari (www.forumfamiglie.org) alla proposta di trovare le risorse per soddisfare "uno dei diritti reclamati per i componenti delle unioni di fatto", cioè "la possibilità di godere della pensione di reversibilità", togliendole "alle […]

di Redazione