A prize for WYD in Cologne” “

The WYD office in Cologne has been awarded the European Union’s prestigious EMAS Award for 2005. The prize was awarded for the innovative and successful utilization of the system of environment management during World Youth Day. WYD environmental manager, Thomas Here, received the prize at a ceremony in Villach, in Austria, in recent days. The […]

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Bioethics and human dignity” “

“Categorically excluding any type of research on children or the mentally ill”: that’s the imperative spelt out by Monsignor Gebhard Fürst, expert for bioethics of the German Bishops’ Conference and bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, in an interview with the German Catholic press agency KNA. Criticising a UNESCO document on bioethics, the bishop observed that some parts […]

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ecumenism " "

Switzerland, protecting Sunday” “

The Federation of the Protestant Churches and the Conference of Swiss Bishops have joined together to defend Sunday in view of the referendum on 27 November in which the Swiss will be called to vote either for or against the Sunday opening of shops “in public transport centres” (stations or airports). In a press conference, […]

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Great Britain: no to euthanasia” “

With an unprecedented coordinated front, 9 leaders of the major religious faiths in Great Britain (Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Sikhs) have joined their forces to launch an appeal against voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide. The religious representatives sent an open letter to the members of both houses of Parliament (Commons and Lords) on […]

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front page " "

The thoughts of Europe” “

The 11th ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops is now in progress in the Vatican. It opened on 2 October and is due to end on 23 October. It is devoted to “The Eucharist: source and culmination of the life and mission of the Church”. We publish some passages from the first interventions […]

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Almost one European in six at risk of poverty” “

Eurostat, the Statistics Office of the European Commission, published its Report “Poverty and social exclusion in the 25-member EU” in early October. The data, referring to the year 2003, present a situation in which 72 million (equivalent to 16%) European citizens are “at risk of poverty”, i.e. earn less than 60% of the average income […]

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European aid for Nepal and Bhutan” “

Ensuring access to drinking water, basic healthcare and nutrition: these are the main motivations that have prompted the Office for Humanitarian Aid of the European Commission (ECHO) to allocate an emergency supplement of 6 million Euro for the victims of the conflict in Nepal and for refugees from Bhutan. In particular, 4 million have been […]

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New Eu strategy for the Palestinian population” “

“Eu-Palestine cooperation after the withdrawal – Towards a solution based on two States”: that’s the title of the Communication to the European Council and Parliament adopted by the Commission last week; see the EU website for external relations: In issuing this document the aim of the Executive is to “implement a mid-term global strategy to […]

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Council of Europe: forced marriages alarm” “

“Forced marriages and those between adolescents represent grave and recurrent violations of the fundamental principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and it is scandalous that they be justified by invoking respect for the culture and tradition of certain communities”. That’s the warning made in […]

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Ireland: the way of reconciliation” “

“Where two or three are gathered in my name” (Matthew 18:20): that’s the motto chosen this year by the Churches of Ireland – at the request of the international committee composed of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity – for the Week of Prayer for Christian […]

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