Europe: the Pope’s dream” “” “

“A Europe without selfish nationalism, in which the nations are seen as vital centres of a cultural richness that deserves to be protected and promoted to the advantage of everyone”. That is one of the aspects of the Pope’s “dream” and his “vision” of a united Europe. He recounted his dream in the Clementine Hall […]

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churches of eastern europe" "

Martyrs behind the Iron Curtain” “

The faith and suffering of the Catholic Churches of Eastern Europe are recounted in a book containing the proceedings of the Conference of contemporary ecclesiastical history held in the Vatican in October 1998. The book, with the title “Faith and Martyrdom. The Catholic Oriental Churches in Twentieth Century Europe” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana), was presented in […]

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the ten of the 1st may (6)" "

Slovakia” “

In our review of the States that will enter the European Union on 1st May, this week it’s the turn of the Slovak Republic. We asked Msgr. František Tondra , president of the Slovak Episcopal Conference, to explain how the Church is experiencing this approaching deadline and what commitments it has assumed. So far we […]

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ireland" "

The Constitution immediately” “

On 1st January the Republic of Ireland assumed the reigns of the European Union in a crucial moment of its history: the dates of its enlargement (1st May) and of the elections to the European Parliament (10-13 June) are fast approaching. But the negotiations to give the EU a Constitution remain suspended, following the failure […]

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Switzerland: IUCP European symposium” “

A Europe of “uncertain believers”, a majority of whom opt for “religious bricolage”, have a high potential for solidarity, but are very pessimistic and critical about the social and political situation: that’s the “panorama of the values of Europeans” as described by Pierre Brechon, of the Institut d’Études Politiques in Grenoble, during the European symposium […]

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England and Wales, "At the heart of the world"” “

The concept of the “shared responsibility” of bishops, introduced by Vatican Council II, is still very far from being put into practice, maintains Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, in his new book “At the heart of the world”. It’s the first book he has written since becoming (four years ago) Catholic Primate of England and Wales and leader […]

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Germany, German laity and antisemitism” “

The economic problems of the dioceses, the question of Pentecost Monday as a day for ecumenical celebrations, the alarm about growing antisemitism in Europe, the imminent elections of the President of the Republic, and the condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Madrid: these were the issues tackled by Hans Joachim Meyer, president of the ZDK, […]

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Slovenia, the seventh child” “

The Church in Slovenia is now celebrating the Week of the Family (19-25 March 2004). On 25 March, solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord, Archbishop Franc Rodé officiated a eucharistic celebration in the cathedral of Ljubljana, to which he invited all the children to whom he had personally administered the sacrament of Baptism. During […]

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Lithuania, apostolate of the laity” “

“A slumbering giant within the Church”: with this image the chairman of the Council for the apostolate of the laity, Msgr. Jonas Kauneckas, presented the current situation of the laity in Lithuania, where “before the Second World War 80% of the faithful formed part of various Catholic organizations, in comparison with the 1% today”. During […]

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Portugal, document on life” “

“Meditation on life” is the title of the pastoral document published by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference at the beginning of March. “Removing some confusions about abortion” is the sub-title of the central part of the document, where some questions regarding the legalization of abortion are clarified. “The one way of avoiding every form of violence […]

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