Ratification of the Constitutional Treaty: review of the situation” “

2005 should be a key year for the process of ratifying the EU Constitutional Treaty. The issue is being discussed by the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg from 10 to 13 January. The member countries are being called on to ratify the Constitution in conformity with their own constitutional rules, whether through parliamentary vote or […]

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The EP "explains" the Constitution to citizens” “

Greater clarity about the values and objectives of the Union; increased transparency about the rights of citizens; reinforcement of the democratic system in the EU: these are just some of the favourable points that the Parliament in Strasbourg intends to recommend to the citizens and governments of the 25 member countries, through a resolution prepared […]

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Italy: "ecumenical parish"” “

“Bringing the ecumenical spirit into the concrete life of the people of God”: that’s the objective set by the COP, Centre of Pastoral Guidance, in promoting a symposium in Anagni in Italy on “Parish: Community of ecumenical life. Experiences of ecumenism in the parish”. The speakers at the meeting included not only experts but also […]

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Brussels: imams and rabbis reject extremism” “

Almost 200 imams and rabbis holding each other’s hand in a long chain of solidarity against every form of violence and fundamentalism: that’s the final image of the first “world congress of imams and rabbis for peace”, which was held in Brussels from 3 to 6 January and which brought together hundreds of Moslem and […]

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ecumenism and dialogue" "

Orthodox Christmas: message of Alexis II” “

The Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias Alexis II asks for the gifts of strength and courage to enable Russians to come to terms with the painful memory of the child victims of Northern Ossetia. Alexis II makes this appeal in one of the most emotional passages of his traditional message for Christmas that […]

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WYD 2005 " "

The wish of Edith Stein” “

“Ecumenical, caring and open to strangers”: that’s how the archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner defines the next World Youth Day due to take place in the German city, seat of the relics of the Three Magi, from 11 al 21 August 2005. “It is not just an event of the diocese of Cologne alone […]

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tsunami tragedy " "

Commitment of the ” “twenty-Five” “

“Europeans are at the side of the peoples of Asia in this enormous tragedy. We are united in mourning for all the victims. I wish to express our firm commitment to helping you in your hour of need. We will do everything possible to help you to overcome this tragedy”, said the President of the […]

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Spain: drinking water instead of beer in Sri Lanka ” “

Bottling drinking water instead of beer to quench the thirst of people struck by the tsunami: that’s the original form of solidarity with the victims of the disaster devised by the international humanitarian organization Oxfam, with the help of its Spanish affiliate Intermòm-Oxfam, and in collaboration with the Sri Lankan branch of the Lion Brewery. […]

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England and Wales, reflections on "why it happened"” “

“For those who still believe in God the question is not ‘why has all this happened?’ but ‘Lord, what do you want us to do now that it has happened?”, said Father Michael Campion, in a requiem mass for the victims of the disaster in South-East Asia, celebrated in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on […]

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EUROPEAN CHURCHES AND the tsunami " "

Germany and Austria, ecumenical celebrations” “

An ecumenical service in commemoration of the victims of the tsunami in South-East Asia was held in Berlin Cathedral on 9 January. “We are profoundly saddened and wish to express our solidarity with all those who have suffered the loss of their dear ones”, said Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Bishops’ Conference in […]

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