Switzerland: no to pre-implant diagnosis” “

“Pre-implant diagnosis must be rejected because it introduces for the first time a deliberate eugenic policy. Pre-implant diagnosis is a form of eugenics since it consists in eliminating the entire embryo whose defective genes could lead to a hereditary illness”: so says the text of the motion of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (SBC) concerning the […]

di Redazione

Italy: Catholics and the future of the country” “

“Italian Catholicism and future of the country”: that’s the theme of a recent debate in Rome conducted by exponents of culture and experts and scholars of society and the Church. The occasion of the debate was the 7th Forum of the Cultural Project, a seminar preparatory to the ecclesial Conference of Verona (16-20 October 2006). […]

di Redazione

Spain: a deal reached on educational reform” “

Agreement between some organizations that protested against the educational reform and the government was reached in Madrid on 29 November. The FERE (the main association of Spanish private schools subsidised by the State, of which there are some 2200) says it is “reasonably satisfied” by the accord, which introduces some changes into the reform, which […]

di Redazione

lithuania" "

The bishops on the Vatican instruction” “

“The Church has always considered homosexuality a loss of identity and a deviation, while it has emphasized the need for emotional and sexual maturity on the part of candidates to the priesthood”, said Cardinal Audrys Backis, archbishop of Vilnius, commenting in recent days on the Vatican instruction on the criteria of vocational discernment of persons […]

di Redazione

The first national congress of consecrated life” “

“Let us renew the mentality of consecrated life and live a community life based on Christ, thus giving witness to the contemporary world that does not understand the traditional language of religion”, declared Cardinal Audrys Backis, archbishop of Vilnius, in addressing the participants at the first national congress of consecrated life, held in recent weeks […]

di Redazione

Against prostitution and the trafficking of human beings” “

The Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference (LBC) is lending its support to a campaign of national Caritas by urging priests and faithful to spread information on the trafficking of human beings and prostitution. During a recent joint LBC-Caritas press conference, the Lithuanian bishops asked priests to offer guidance to parishioners in suspected cases of proposals of work […]

di Redazione

ireland" "

A common challenge” “

The elimination of subsidies on farm exports enjoyed, in particular, by the USA, Japan and the European Union; the reduction of the support measures that distort trade; the launch of policies to provide subsidies to protected environmental area, aid to small family-scale production and reduction of poverty. These are the main requests made by the […]

di Redazione

ECUMENISM" "

Europe: logo of EEA3 designed by an Italian” “

An Italian designer has won the competition held by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) for the realization of the Logo of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (AEE3) on the theme: “The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe”. […]

di Redazione

Russia: churches united in the social field” “

On 29 November, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, president of the Department of External Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, received Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, who had arrived in the Russian capital to present the Russian translation of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the […]

di Redazione

CEC: Williams, new general secretary ” “

On 1st December Colin Williams, archdeacon emeritus of Lancaster in the Anglican diocese of Blackburn (England), officially assumed the post of general secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), filling the post hitherto occupied by the Rev. Keith Clements. The official instalment will take place during a celebration on Friday 16 December in the […]

di Redazione