Switzerland

” “The Church and the "sans-papiers"” “” “

“We can’t abandon the 300,000 clandestine immigrants in our country”, declares the bishop of Fribourg 4 June 2001, Whit Monday, national holiday in Switzerland: a score of clandestine immigrants (“sans-papiers”) occupy the Catholic church of St. Paul in Fribourg and ask for their position to be regularized. A stand-off begins that lasts almost three months: […]

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ecumenism

” “Kek: no to retaliation” “

As already affirmed on several occasions, the Conference of European Churches (KEK) has once again reiterated – after the American and British attacks on Afghanistan – that “political and peaceful solutions are always to be preferred to violent and military ones”, in the conviction that “violence must not automatically spawn further violence”. In a message […]

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Russia

” “Religions together for peace” “” “

Kirill: “The military response must be commensurate with the offence, otherwise we risk succumbing to a spiral of violence” The recourse to violence to restore peace is legitimate, but only once all the other paths of peaceful negotiation have failed. Presenting the position of the Russian Orthodox Church as regards the international crisis that has […]

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the refugees

” “The intervention of the European Commission…” “” “

EU Foreign Ministers, meeting in Luxembourg on 8 October, defined the two basic strands of EU policy towards Afghanistan and the other Islamic countries involved in the crisis: first, a humanitarian intervention for refugees and displaced persons; second, a renewed effort of cooperation and political dialogue with the Islamic world. The European Commission has pledged […]

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the conflict

” “A coalition against terrorism” “” “

The crisis has accelerated the EU’s foreign policy and common defence. The analysis of John Palmer “The European Policy Centre”, a think-tank dedicated to analyzing the process of European integration, with its seat in Brussels, is carefully monitoring the international crisis following the terrorist attacks in the USA and the military offensive in Afghanistan. We […]

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Presentation of bids” “

· HEALTH AND SAFETY ON THE WORKPLACE – Restricted invitation to present bids aimed at obtaining grants in the sector of health and safety on the workplace. The intended beneficiaries are exclusively the competent inspectorate authorities in the member States. Deadline for the presentation of bids: 9/11/2001 and 30/9/2002. For further information, contact: European Commission, […]

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European Parliament” “

The main points on the agenda of the EP’s parliamentary Commissions meeting in Brussels from Monday 8 to Thursday 11 October were as follows: · Juridical personality of the European Union (Comm. Constitutional Affairs, Rapporteur Carnero Gonzalez); · Prevention of conflicts: regional integration and cooperation, prevention in the short term (Comm. Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, […]

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Report ” “on poverty ” “

In the course of its meeting on 10 October, the European Commission adopted a draft joint report on social inclusion, based on the analysis of the national plans of action relating to the policies of the fight against poverty and social exclusion of the individual member States. The draft follows up an invitation addressed to […]

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France: an ecumenical delegation ” “in the Mid-East” “

Following the journey of a delegation to the Holy Land in July, the Council of the Christian Churches in France (Cecef) has denounced the isolation of the Christian communities encountered in the Mid-East. At a press conference held in Paris, in recent days, Msgr. Guy Thomazeau, bishop of Beauvais and member of the permanent Council […]

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Northern Ireland. the protests continue” “

The protests at the “Holy Cross” primary school in Belfast continue; the school was a victim to a terrible attack by Protestant terrorists a month ago. The children are still forced to submit , every morning and evening, to the shouts and insults of the Protestant inhabitants of the district in which the school is […]

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