GERMANY

Self-help through the Internet

“Intakt”: that’s the name of the Internet forum of the Catholic League for Families (Fdk) of the diocese of Würzburg in Bavaria, in operation now for two years. The project, launched throughout Bavaria in 2004, has proved a big success: last month, over 61,000 internet users visited and used the forum for the parents of […]

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european parliament

Environmental emergency

Not a day now goes past without the “environmental question” being at the centre of some Community initiative. Sometimes the initiatives in question are merely occasions for study or political debate. They also take the form of the presentation of Green Papers (perhaps too many?) by the Commission or of reports of the European Parliament. […]

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FRONT PAGE

The slav richness

The feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the brothers who evangelised the Slav peoples, and also translated the Gospel into Cyrillic script, was celebrated on 14 February. To mark the occasion, Cardinal FRANC RODÈ , President of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided over a eucharistic celebration in […]

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EEA3

Christians for Europe

Some 150 representatives of the Christians Churches of Europe met at Wittenberg (Germany) from 15 to 18 February for the third and last stage leading to the European Ecumenical Assembly (Eea3), promoted by the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (Ccee) and the Conference of European Churches (Cec), and due to be held in […]

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PORTUGAL

After that “yes”

At the end of its annual spiritual retreat at Fatima, gathered in extraordinary assembly on 16 February, the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference issued a pastoral statement relating to the result of the referendum on abortion held on 11 February. The communiqué of the bishops points out that, in spite of the fact that the majority of […]

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German: bishops in the holy places

“A patent sign of solidarity with the Christians in the Holy land” is the pilgrimage that the members of the Permanent Council of the German Bishops Conference are going to undertake in the Holy Land between 26th February and 4th March. The Bishops will be accompanied by the administrators of the 27 dioceses of Germany. […]

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Austria: the blessing of lovers

Not only flowers for St. Valentine: over a thousand people participated in the “Mass for the blessing of lovers” in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna on 14 February. The evening Mass was celebrated by the parish priest of the cathedral, Father Anton Faber, together with three other priests and three deacons and ended with the […]

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Spagna: the “hard cord” of the dialogue

“After overcoming many misunderstandings and gaining essential consensus, we have now arrived at the hard core of our ecclesiological differences”. It was said in Barcelona today by cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Papal Council for the Promotion of the Unity of Christians, who took part in the XLII Days of Pastoral Issues, organised by […]

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Croatia: European football championships for priests

The 3rd European seven-a-side football championships for priests reached its conclusion at the end of last week with a contested penalty. The Polish team won the final match and was declared the champions, after defeating the home team from Croatia. Organized by the archdiocese of Sarajevo, together with the Franciscan Order, the contest involved ten […]

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POLAND

Mgr. Michalik (Przemysl): “I have never collaborated with the communist regime”

“I have never collaborated with the secret services of the communist regime. I have never signed any pledge to collaborate, I have never accepted any gifts or remunerations”. This was stated yesterday by mgr. Józef Michalik, president of the Polish Bishops Conference and archbishop of Przemysl, after he was informed by the Historical Committee of […]

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