Bible marathon at Strasbourg” “

A hundred or so people joined together in Strasbourg to read the Bible aloud, in alternation, from 12 to 18 May. The “Bible marathon” forms part of the “Bible Year” currently in progress in France, and was promoted by the local Mennonite Church. Founded in the 16th century as part of the Protestant Reformation, the […]

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Catholic and Orthodox theologians on the primacy of Peter” “

A group of twenty or so Catholic and Orthodox theologians from all over the world is meeting behind closed doors in the Vatican till Saturday 24 May to discuss the primacy of Peter, one of the main obstacles to ecumenical dialogue. Promoted by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, the […]

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ecumenism" "

Christians in Berlin” “

The Oecumenische Kirchentag, the ecumenical Church Congress promoted jointly by German Catholics and Protestants together with other Christian confessions (cf.SirEurope no.33/2003), is due to open shortly in Berlin. Over 150,000 visitors are expected to attend it, in large part young people from seventy or so different countries, including many “religionslos” (people of no religion). They […]

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Croatia: an ancient breviary as a gift for the Pope” “

A modern facsimile of the breviary of Sister Cika ( c.1060), a cheque containing a sum of money collected during Lent this year, that will serve for the purchase of equipment for the local hospital, and a bouquet of flowers. These are the gifts that the archdiocese of Zadar will deliver to John Paul II […]

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Switzerland: the bishops "distance themselves" from the visions of Dozulé ” “

“Official reservation about the ‘Dozulé project” and the wish to throw light on the question: that’s the basic message that emerges from the communiqué on the ‘Dozulé’ phenomenon issued by the Swiss Episcopal Conference through its president Bishop Amédée Grab. Over the last thirty years or so groups of faithful have gathered at Dozulé, in […]

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Belgium: 2004 dedicated to evangelization” “

“Sent to evangelize”: is the theme of the pastoral year 2003-2004 announced in recent days by the Belgian Episcopal Conference. It is the follow up to the pastoral year in course: “Sent to serve”, devoted to the service that Christians are called to give to the world. “How can we proclaim Christ to the world, […]

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WCC: plenary of the mixed Catholic-WCC Group” “

“Considerable progress has been made on the ecclesiological implications of Baptism, on the nature and aims of ecumenical dialogue and on the participation of the Catholic Church in the National and Regional Councils of Churches”. So declares a communiqué issued by the Vatican Press Office on 19 May at the end of the 4th plenary […]

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Turkey: Patriarch Bartholomew I in the cathedral” “

“John Paul II and his service to peace”: that’s the subject of the address that the ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew I will give in the cathedral basilica of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on 17 June. The event has been promoted by the Nuncio apostolic in Turkey, Msgr. Edmond Farhat, in collaboration with the Turkish Episcopal […]

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European Churches" "

Slovakia: victory of ‘yes’ to the EU” “

After Malta, Slovenia, Hungary and Lithuania, another country has voted “yes” to membership of the European Union – Slovakia. In the referendum of 16-17 May 92.46% of the voters voted in favour of entry into the EU. But the overwhelming victory of the ‘yes’ vote was offset by a low voter turnout. Only 52.15% of […]

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Mediterranean" "

A sea of dialogue” “

“It would be a grave error to build the new Europe by ignoring the ‘cradle of Europe’, i.e. the Mediterranean”: so said Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, in a speech given in Italy on 19 May . “Enlargement and unification of Europe – said Prodi – require a new reflection and strong political […]

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