FRONT PAGE

A land of brotherhood

Shocked by the violence of current events and disturbed by the insidious anxiety that is invading society also in many cities of Europe, it is really important for us to meet someone who responds to all this by praising the human being. The human being, in fact, among all the animal species, is the one […]

di Charles Delhez Belgium

England: against the trafficking of human beings

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has asked the British government to sign and implement the Convention of the Council of Europe on action against the trafficking of human beings. By signing it the government would pledge to grant to the victims of such trafficking a period of thirty days during which they […]

di Redazione

Spain: bishops and homophobia

“Falsification of the truth” and “serious danger for married and family life and for the whole order of social life in Europe”: that’s the judgement expressed in recent days by the Executive Committee of the Spanish bishops on the Resolution of the European Parliament relating to homophobia (P6-TA (2006)0018). The Spanish bishops consider that the […]

di Redazione

Portugal: by bike from Fatima to the Vatican

A group of Portuguese soldiers will travel 2,800 km by bike, from Fatima to the Vatican, to visit Benedict XVI. The pilgrimage by bike, announced by the Portuguese Catholic press agency “Ecclesia”, is not something new: a similar one was completed by 6 soldiers in 2000. This time the pilgrimage officially began at Fatima on […]

di Redazione

POLAND

Awaiting Benedict XVI

In the final message of the permanent episcopal Council chaired by Archbishop JÒZEF MICHALIK at Jasna Gòra on 2 May, the bishops of Poland invite the faithful “to make intensive preparations for the great event of the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Poland (25-29 May) and to “pray fervently for this intention in parishes […]

di Redazione

ECUMENISM AND DIALOGUE

England: the tent of dialogue

A biblical Bedouin-style tent as a place of dialogue and reconciliation, and as a monument against violence and terrorism, was inaugurated by Prince Charles in London on 4 May, in the presence of representatives of the most important religions in the UK. The tent is placed in a symbolic place in the City of London, […]

di Redazione

Italy: visit of Bartholomew I ends

The visit to Italy of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, ended on 15 May with a prayer at the tomb of Joseph II in the church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. It began on 13 May with the liturgy of Vespers in the Orthodox rite in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del […]

di Redazione

Switzerland: Council of Religions established

A Council of Religions that brings together representatives of the three national Churches (Protestant, Catholics, Old Catholics), and of the Jewish and Muslim communities in Switzerland, was founded in Bern on 15 May, after a year and a half of preparations. During the official ceremony marking its inauguration, the members of the Council signed a […]

di Redazione

Wcc: firm rejection of sterile seeds

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is opposing “terminator technology”. In a communiqué released on 15 May, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, WCC general secretary, calls on member churches and ecumenical partners to take action to stop the creation and production in the laboratory of sterile seeds (permitting a single harvest only), better known as “Terminator […]

di Redazione

SOCIAL PROBLEMS

An alternative economy

The best social projects against disadvantage, unemployment and discrimination in Europe were presented in Warsaw on 10-12 May, during a conference on “Social economy: a model for inclusion, entrepreneurship and local development” promoted by the Equal Community Initiative, a project of the European Commission funded by the European Social Fund. The social economy, formed of […]

di Redazione