european elections (2)" "

Capable of a future” “

Mass abstention, especially in the ten countries of enlargement, the growth of the “eurosceptic” political groups, and the defeat, sometimes crushing (as in Great Britain), of the parties in government, seem to be the main characteristics of the recent European elections of 10-13 June. For many commentators the elections were supposed to be the test […]

di Reinhard Marx" "Bishop of Trier" "" "" "

A weak result” “

We continue our review of comments on the European elections. In this number it’s the turn of Lithuania and Sweden (see SirEurope no. 45/2004) LitHuania: “POPULIST PARTIES PROMISING MIRACLE CURES TOP THE POLLS”. “The victory of the populists expresses citizens’ reaction to national policy in which there’s little justice for workers”. That’s the comment to […]

di Redazione

Bulgaria: euthanasia and cloning rejected ” “

“I regard the banning of euthanasia and cloning a great success for those in Bulgaria who are dedicating themselves to the defence of human life”. In these terms the president of the Bulgarian Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Hristo Projkov, has expressed satisfaction about the approval, in Parliament, of the law on health that prohibits euthanasia and […]

di Redazione

Finland: bishop of Helsinki says "a new era is beginning for the Church"” “

“With the law on religious liberty that came into force last year, a new era has begun for the Catholic Church in Finland”, says Bishop Josef Wrobel of Helsinki, interviewed by SIR following the European elections. “Not only is there full legal recognition of religious liberty – explains Wrobel -, but the esteem and consideration […]

di Redazione

ecumenism" "

Germany: preparing for intercultural week” “

“Integrating, not ignoring”: the same slogan as last year has been chosen for the German intercultural week (26 September-2 October) by the presidents of the Churches in Germany: Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, president of the Council of the Evangelic Church, and Metropolitan Augoustinos of the Greek […]

di Redazione

Germany: churches in defence of Sunday as a day of rest” “

With a joint communiqué issued on 9 June, the German Bishops’ Conference and the German Evangelic Church (EKD) have commented on the implications of the sentence of the Constitutional Court that has rejected the appeal of a commercial chain that had applied for a liberalization of working hours, making Sunday and holidays equivalent to weekdays. […]

di Redazione

Europe: a greater say to women” “

Women are “Agents of innovation” and their experience and talents may be crucial in the processes of change. Yet women still suffer the consequences of a system that neither guarantees them equality with men, nor sufficiently recognizes and enhances their role. The need to give women a greater say was discussed at a conference held […]

di Redazione

France: Protestant churches ever closer to union” “

In a statement put out on 14 June, the Synod of the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (Eral) has announced that it has accepted the proposed union with the Church of the Augsburg Confession (Eccal). The fusion of Eral (some 32,000 faithful in the departments of Alsace and Moselle) with Ecaal (250,000 faithful) should […]

di Redazione

European Council” “

The six months’ Irish Presidency of the European Council ends in Brussels today, 18 June, with the Summit of the Heads of State and of Government. Holland will assume the revolving Presidency on 1st July. There is a chance that the Council will reach an agreement on the draft Constitutional Treaty during the present summit. […]

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European Union and Iraq ” “

Following the recent Resolution of the UN Security Council on Iraq – welcomed by Brussels since it “reinforces the role of the United Nations as guarantor for the country’s political and economic reconstruction” – the European Union proposed a new framework for relations between Europe and Iraq on 9 June. With this Communication, the Commission […]

di Redazione