Scotland: abortion at the centre of the elections” “

The Scottish Bishops’ Conference has joined its own voice to that of the Catholic Primate of England and Wales, Cardinal Murphy O’Connor, who asked Catholics last week to turn abortion into one of the crucial issues of the electoral campaign for the general elections due to be held on 5 May (see SIR no. 21/2005). […]

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Italy: Milan to host Taizé youth” “

The 28th European meeting of the youth animated by the Taizé Community is to be held in Milan at the end of the year. The announcement was made by the archbishop of the Lombard city, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, speaking to the youth of his diocese during a prayer vigil held in the Cathedral on the […]

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Switzerland: law on asylum approved ” “

In spite of the fervent appeal of the Christian Churches, the Swiss Council of States approved a new law on asylum on Thursday 17 March. According to the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), “it is one of the most restrictive legislative acts in the whole of Europe and comes at a time when the […]

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Bosnia-Herzegovina: bishops denounce violations” “

The 33rd plenary assembly of the bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, held at Mostar from 16 to 18 March, has issued a strong denunciation of the injustices that have arisen since the signing of the Dayton accords in 1995 and appealed for a just and lasting peace. “On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the end […]

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wyd 2005" "

So far 200,000 enrolled” “

World Youth Day in Cologne is becoming a central event in the life of Germany, as preparations continue for the great youth jamboree in August this year. A protagonist at the World Tourism Fair in Berlin, an occasion to promote cultural exchange and knowledge of the history and traditions of Germany, WYD is also revitalizing […]

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Belgium: a dvd for vocations” “

To respond to the grave crisis of vocations, the Catholic bishops have produced a DVD to present “the profession of priest” to young people aged between 15 and 25. The film, with the title “Priest today… why not?”, last for 30 minutes and is aimed at “presenting the life of the priest – explains a […]

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Germany: Easter triduum on the internet” “

Some 12,000 communities are participating in the on-line ecumenical service offered by the Evangelic Church (EKD) and by the German Catholic Church, which provides information on Masses and other church services from Holy Thursday to Easter Monday on the website www.ostergottesdienste.de. The service, which has already been available for several years, has been progressively improved […]

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front page" "

A milestone” “

“The Constitutional Treaty represents a milestone in the history of European integration”. This is the conclusion reached by the new document of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, president Bishop Josef Homeyer), “The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. Elements for an Evaluation”, published in Brussels on 23 March. The document contains […]

di Gianni Borsa" "Italy" "" "

SPAGNA: UNA VENTINA DI ORGANIZZAZIONI CRISTIANE, “PIÙ FLESSIBILITÀ NELLA REGOLARIZZAZIONE DEGLI IMMIGRATI”

” “In occasione delle celebrazioni del giovedì santo Una ventina di organizzazioni cristiane spagnole – tra cui l’Azione Cattolica Operaia, la Caritas Diocesana di Barcellona, l’Unione dei Religiosi di Catalogna, Cristianesimo e Giustizia e Giustizia e Pace – denunciano oggi l’attuale politica migratoria del governo spagnolo. “Esprimiamo la nostra preoccupazione davanti alle difficoltà che constatiamo […]

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PAPA: “CON LA MENTE E CON IL CUORE SONO VICINO A VOI”. CARD. LOPEZ TRUJILLO, UNO “STRENUO DIFENSORE” DELLA “VERA QUALITA’ DI VITA”

” ““Con la mente e con il cuore sono vicino a voi, riuniti presso la tomba dell’apostolo Pietro per la Santa Messa in Cena Domini, che costituisce il primo atto del triduo pasquale, culmine dell’anno liturgico”. E’ il messaggio di saluto inviato da Giovanni Paolo II ai partecipanti alla messa “nella cena del Signore”, presieduta […]

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