” “Quotidiani e periodici internazionali” “

L’Europa e la ratifica della Carta europea sono al centro dei commenti della stampa tedesca. Sulla Frankfurter Rundschau (27/4), Brigitte Kols scrive di “ sogno europeo” e commenta “ L’allargamento dell’Ue è un progetto nella miglior tradizione europea: integrazione per garantire la pace e con l’obiettivo della stabilità sociale. Questa stabilità è tuttavia minacciata, poiché […]

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front page" "

Rediscovering the centre” “

The College of Cardinals, which represents the one universal Church, has elected as pope Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and very close travelling companion of John Paul II. We give thanks to God for this choice and rejoice in the new Pope together with all Catholics and […]

di Joseph Homeyer " "President of COMECE" "" "

The monk and the pope” “” “

The pontificate of Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, of German origin, was solemnly inaugurated on 24 April 2005, a day before the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Italy, two weeks before the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War. The German and Bavarian flags fluttered over St. Peter’s Square without causing any surprise. […]

di Jean-Dominique Durand" "" "

christian roots" "

From Catholicism to catholicity” “

Professor of Sociology at the “Charles” University in Prague and President of the Christian Academy of the Czech Republic, Tomas Halik is a Catholic priest ordained in secret in Germany during the Communist regime. Throughout the 1980s he was very active in the Czech “Church of silence”, working together with Cardinal Tomášek and future President […]

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France: right to die” “

“The objectives of the law are acceptable, but ambiguities remain that need to be clarified”: that’s the reaction of the French bishops to the new law relating to the rights of invalids and to the end of life. Called by many the “right to die” law, it was finally voted by the French Senate on […]

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England: Christians are nor "cannibals"” “

“Ridiculous”: the Catholic Church of England and Wales does not mince words in commenting on the new directives adopted by the authorities for religious education in the country of Norfolk in eastern England. These prescribe that no mention should be made of the fact that the bread and wine represent the body and blood of […]

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Austria: Caritas in support of Serbia” “

“Very oppressive”: that’s how Franz Küberl, president of Caritas Austria, called the situation of poverty in Serbia. Küberl was able personally to verify the situation for himself during a recent visit to Belgrade. In an interview with the Austrian Catholic press agency Kathpress, published on 14 April, Küberl described the poverty that is widespread in […]

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romania" "

May the young return” “

There is a diaspora of approximately a million Romanians who have emigrated to seek work, especially in Italy, Austria, Israel, Ireland and Spain. Many of them spend several years in the host country before returning home. This emigration creates both opportunities and problems, as explained to SIR by Monsignor PETRU GHERGHEL , bishop of Iasi, […]

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GERMANy" "

An "essential" Church” “

The economic crisis of the German Church, the difficult integration of migrants in German society, and World Youth Day: these are all issues that challenge the Church and society in Germany. We discussed them with Msgr. JOSEF VOSS , auxiliary bishop of Munster and delegate of the German Bishops’ Conference for problems of immigration. The […]

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spain " "

An unjust law” “

With 183 votes in favour, 136 against and 6 abstentions the Spanish lower house of parliament, the Congress of Deputies, approved on 21 April the “Bill for the Reform of the Civil Code” which in effect gives the green light to homosexual unions. In substance the text of the bill introduces amendments to the Civil […]

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