TURKEY

Following the Council’s path

Demonstrations and protests are keeping tension high in Turkey in the run up to the apostolic journey of Benedict XVI to the country (28 November-1st December). They include even sensational events like that staged by the militants of the ultra-nationalist BHP party, close to the terrorist organization “grey wolves” to which the would-be assassin of […]

di Redazione

Portugal: heterologous insemination illegitimate

“All practices of heterologous insemination permitted by the present law, such as insemination with sperm or egg cells from persons other than the couple itself and the donation of embryos, are morally illegitimate”, declare the Portuguese bishops in a pastoral statement issued in recent days, with regard to the new law on medically assisted procreation, […]

di Redazione

Spain: 55,000 signatures against foreign debt

A group of Spanish citizens, originally from the poorest countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, delivered 55,000 signatures to the Register of the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on 17 November. With these signatures they intend to ask “forgiveness from the poorest countries for the debts they have with countries like Spain”. The signatures […]

di Redazione

Hungary: liturgical year dedicated to St. Elizabeth

The liturgical feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patron saint of the Franciscan Third Order, was opened on 19 November, in the year dedicated to her. The liturgy was celebrated in the basilica of St. Stephen in Budapest. “Saint Elizabeth is not only a model of charity to our neighbour, but also an inspiring example […]

di Redazione

Italy: 40th anniversary of the Fisc

“Catholics in politics. Free or scattered?”. The Italian Federation of Catholic Weeklies (FISC, 162 weeklies for a total print-run of a million copies) intends to make a contribution to the question at its extraordinary Assembly, now being held in Rome from 23 to 25 November, to mark the 40th anniversary of its foundation (27 November […]

di Redazione

ECUMENISM

Wcc: message for Christmas 2006

To shepherds, the outcasts of society at that time, was entrusted the task of announcing the birth of Jesus. The shepherds were transformed into angels, for the original meaning of the word ‘angel’ is messenger”. The shepherds remind us of the many excluded people in our own society. The Christmas Message 2006 of Samuel Kobia, […]

di Redazione

Bartholomew I: awaiting Benedict XVI’s visit

“We await the Pope’s visit with brotherly love. It will be important for our nation and Catholic-Orthodox relations”, said the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, commenting on his forthcoming meeting with Benedict XVI. The detailed programme of the meeting is given by the website of the Patriarchate. On 29 November the Pope will be […]

di Redazione

Christian NGOs and the World Bank

European Christian NGOs recently met Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, in Brussels to criticise the way in which the World Bank is approaching the negotiations in the agricultural sector at the World Trade Organization. The World Bank published a research paper which was subsequently withdrawn. The document tackles the question of “special products”, […]

di Redazione

“From foreigners to citizens”

Obtaining British citizenship for immigrants who have worked in the UK for at least seven years, speak the language well, are integrated in the community, have no criminal record and can produce good references: that is the objective of the campaign “From foreigners to citizens”, launched by Telco, an alliance of churches and lay associations […]

di Redazione

ENVIRONMENT

The great challenge

The German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), during its autumn plenary assembly in Fulda, appealed not only to German political and economic leaders, but each individual citizen, in particular each Christian, to engage in an active and concrete commitment to the defence of the environment. Global climate change is “the great challenge of humanity”, declared Cardinal KARL […]

di Redazione