Scotland: return of the Christmas crib” “

The return of the crib: that seems to be the great novelty of Christmas 2005 in Scotland, at least according to Ronnie Convery, spokesman of the Archbishop of Glasgow, Mario Conti. “The most important novelty of our Christmas this year is the re-appearance of Christmas cribs”, he explained in a conversation with SIR“. “The most […]

di Redazione

Ireland: a website for fiancés” “

A website has been created in Ireland to inform, accompany and assist engaged couples in their preparation for marriage (www.gettingmarried.ie). The project was officially inaugurated in Dublin in recent days by Bishop Willie Walsh of Killaloe and president of Accord (www.accord.ie), an agency of the Catholic Church of Ireland founded in 1965 to respond to […]

di Redazione

England: no to "gay unions"” “

The Catholic archbishop of Cardiff, Peter Smith, head of the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship within the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has commented on the decision of the British government to legalise homosexual unions. “The introduction of civil partnership as a legal institution will have a significant and lasting social and cultural […]

di Redazione

Ireland: new child protection trainers” “

“An important stage in the development of best practice in working with children and young people in our parish communities”: that’s how Dr. Seàn Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, described the presentation of certificates to the first group of child protection trainers – 19 in all, representing 9 dioceses – at […]

di Redazione

Spain: "peace pole" written in 99 languages” “

Bilbao already has its “peace pole”: a steel tree as a sign of peace and token of the city’s claim to be the interfaith capital of Spain. A message in 99 different languages is inscribed on it: “May peace prevail on earth”. The “peace pole” is two and a half metres high and is the […]

di Redazione

Germany: Cardinal Lehmann meets Romanies” “

The President of the German Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, met the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Rom, Romani Rose, at Heidelberg on 9 December. The meeting, which took place at Rose’s invitation, included a shared visit to the centre for Sinti and Rom documentation and culture in the city. The […]

di Redazione

Czech Republic: churches oppose euthanasia” “

The Christian Churches of the Czech Republic have joined forces to oppose euthanasia. In a joint document issued in Prague on 9 December, the leaders of the Christian Churches, together with representatives of the Jewish and Moslem communities, expressed their firm opposition to any legalization of euthanasia in the country. “At the centre of our […]

di Redazione

Switzerland: bishops’ assembly” “

Year of vocations, reorganization of the general secretariat and a revamped website: these are some of the questions discussed by the Swiss bishops during their last ordinary assembly (the 270th) held at Delémont from 5 to 7 December. Encouraged by the success of 2005, the bishops have decided to dedicate also 2006 to vocations. This […]

di Redazione

england" "

Garland and orange” “

Garlands, oranges, collections, journeys of solidarity and particular forms of protest for a more just and caring world: Christmas in England is celebrated by a mixture of faith and modernity, tradition and innovation. The result is a celebration full of initiatives. We present a few of them below. TradiTIONS AND mission. It’s called “Advent Wreath”, […]

di Redazione

catholic schools " "

In a society searching for meaning” “

“The Church and Catholic schools can serve the world and Europe by proposing the Gospel as message of hope and of life in a society yearning for responsible freedom, solidarity, justice and respect for the creation”, says ETIENNE VERHACK , general secretary of the European Committee for Catholic Education (ECCE). In his contribution to the […]

di Redazione