BIBLE

A book in the shadows?

“The Bible today has entered in a massive way into the families of so many Christians; it’s a pity is remains in the shadows”. That’s the main finding that emerged from the research project “The promotion of the Bible, common endeavour of Catholics, Protestant and Orthodox”, presented in Rome on 26 June. Promoted by the […]

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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Two different closures

A “secularist attitude” reigns in many Western countries, while “in the territories that have put behind them decades of Communist totalitarianism the idea of the independence of religion from the State has difficulty in gaining ground”. This, in essence, is the situation of religious freedom in Europe that emerges from the 2006 Report published by […]

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Russia: international conference of UCIP

An international conference on “Russia beyond myths and stereotypes: moral values, media and religion” was held in Moscow from 19 to 22 June. Promoted by UCIP, the International Catholic Union of the press, in collaboration with the archdiocese of the Russian capital, the conference was attended by journalists from over ten nations. The conference programme […]

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Cec: see again the european laws on the asylum

“The asylum laws that Europe has enforced jeopardise the life of the refugees and make their families suffer”. This was denounced by 73 organisations working with refugees and by the members of the European Council for refugees and exiles (Ecre), and is contained in an open letter that was published today and sent to Franco […]

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CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

Ccee: meeting on the teaching of religion at school

Delegates of the Catholic Churches of Europe, who are conducting a survey on the teaching of religion at school (Ir) in the Old Continent, are going to meet in Rome on July 10th and 11th. The meeting will be an opportunity to reflect on the changes that are taking place in contemporary Europe, which is […]

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Spain: worrying situation for the family

“The Pope’s visit will be especially a breath of fresh air for families throughout the world” and “will help them to fulfil their mission and be seeds that transform society”, says Eduardo Hertfelder, president of Spain’s Institute of Family Policy (IPF). Reported by the international press agency Fides, Hertfelder hails the imminent visit of Benedict […]

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England: reforming the law on abortion

As announced by the British press, the eagerly awaited meeting between Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Primate of England and Wales and leader of five million Catholics, and the Minister of Health in the Blair Government, Patricia Hewitt, took place on 21 June. The main object of the cardinal’s visit was the request to the Minister to […]

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Germany: a major defeat

“A major defeat and a desolating signal for the protection of embryos in Europe, even for the defence of human rights”: that is the judgement of the German Bishops’ Conference on the recent decision of the European Parliament to fund research on human embryos. The German bishops forcefully underline the fact that “research on human […]

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LIFE AND FAMILY

Malta: against the destruction of human embryos

“Dismay” at the decision of the European Parliament that “promotes the exploitation and destruction of human embryos” and support, together with the bishops of COMECE, for a form of research genuinely at the service of man and the common good” are expressed by the bishops of Malta and Gozo in a statement deploring the European […]

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Portugal: forum on religious freedom

“Religious freedom in the world: the rights of communities and human dignity”: that was the theme of the international conference held in Lisbon on 27 June. During the conference, held under the auspices of the Foundation Aid to the Suffering Church (ASC), a report was presented on religious freedom in a hundred or so countries, […]

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