Europe Union " "

More children: desire and reality ” “

There’s no Eu summit or official meeting, no programmatic document or public debate in Europe that ignores the demographic prospects of the continent. The enlargement of the Union has led to a substantial growth in the total population; at the same time, the progressive average ageing of Europeans, and an overall stagnation of births, is […]

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vatican radio " "

To all peoples” “

“Announcing the Christian message with freedom, fidelity and effectiveness and connecting the centre of Catholicism with the various countries of the world, diffusing the voice and teachings of the Roman Pontiff, informing on the activity of the Holy See, reporting Catholic life in the world, guiding and evaluating the problems of the moment in the […]

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turkey" "

A "well" of solidarity” “

“Famine and poverty – The solutions offered by religions” was the theme of a symposium held in Istanbul in recent days. The meeting, promoted by the Platform of Intercultural Dialogue, was attended by numerous representatives of secular humanitarian and aid organizations present in the country and also of charities linked to religious communities. The meeting […]

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austria " "

Respect and coexistence” “

The satirical cartoons portraying the prophet Mahomet that have aroused vehement reactions through much of the Islamic world have raised the question about whether it is appropriate to make religion an object of satire. Various initiatives have been taken all over Europe to moderate the belligerent tones of the clash of civilizations heard in various […]

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Belgium: demonstration on behalf of the "sans papiers"” “

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Antwerp on 15 February to ask for the regularization of immigrants without identity papers, the so-called “sans-papiers”, responding to the appeal of the collective HOP (Hoop Op Papieren: Hope to obtain a residence permit). The organization is asking for the regularization of all those who began their […]

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France: respect for the embryo” “

Archbishop André Vingt-Trois of Paris has appealed to the principle of “precaution” to prevent surplus embryonal stem cells from being used for research purposes. The decree – eagerly awaited by the scientific community of France – that authorises the utilization for research purposes of embryos conceived for in vitro fertilization but now surplus to requirements, […]

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EUROPE: EUROBAROMETRO, “MULTILINGUALISM, A FACTOR OF COMMUNITY INTEGRATION”

“The number of European citizens knowing one foreign language, at least, has been constantly growing: from 47% in 2001 to 56% in 2005”, and today, “a higher number of Europeans, with respect to four years ago, think that knowing foreign languages is useful” (83% in 2005, in comparison with 72% in 2001). Today, a survey […]

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EUROPA: EUROBAROMETRO, "MULTILINGUISMO, FATTORE DI INTEGRAZIONE COMUNITARIA"

” “"Il numero di cittadini europei che conoscono almeno una lingua straniera aumenta linearmente dal 47% del 2001 al 56% del 2005" e oggi "un numero maggiore di europei rispetto a quattro anni fa ritiene che conoscere le lingue straniere sia utile" (83% nel 2005, rispetto al 72% nel 2001). È stato presentata oggi a […]

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DEATH PENALTY: MARAZZITI (COMUNITÀ SANT’EGIDIO), TWO ANAESTHETISTS AGAINST “AN ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS”

“It is incredible how an abuse of human rights has to be prevented in an unusual way”, said Mario Marazziti, spokesman of Comunità di Sant’Egidio, while commenting for SIR the postponement of the execution of Michael Angelo Morales, after the refusal by two anaesthetists to assist in the inoculation of the lethal substance for ethical […]

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EUROPE: FRATTINI (COMMISSION), “THE RIGHT OF THE CATHOLICS TO EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOM OF RELIGION IS THREATENED BY VIOLENCE”

“No violence. For violence is not the right reaction, even before an offence, to one’s religious belief. We want freedom for all religions” and “there is extreme worry” for the attacks on “the Christians in the world”. Today, the Vice President of the European Union Commission, Franco Frattini, spoke again about the fact of the […]

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