turkey " "

Testimonies of peace” “

The terrorist attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul on 20 November 2003, the second after that on the synagogue on the 15 of the same month, prevented the local Chaldaen community from celebrating Christmas and probably also Easter this year. For serious damage was caused to its church as a result of the bomb […]

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ZDK: Europe and Turkey” “

“The fact that the current debate on the possible entry of Turkey” into the EU “should ignore the cultural aspect is a sign of a lack of realism”: so said Thomas Sternberg of the ZDK (Central Committee of German Catholics) in a statement issued in Bonn in recent days. Sternberg, spokesman of the ZDK on […]

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Switzerland: the bishops and research on stem cells” “

In a letter dated 8 March, the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, through its president Bishop Amedée Grab, has presented a series of proposals on the new regulation on research on stem cells. Recalling the declaration of 27 February, issued by the work group on bioethics of the bishops’ conference, the Swiss episcopate reaffirms its position that […]

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Austria: making visible the Christian roots of Europe” “

“The innumerable European saints have made the Gospel visible in the continent”: so said Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, during the eucharistic celebration of the bishops held at Eibnitz on 9 March. The episcopate is meeting in plenary assembly at Seggauberg. One issue on the agenda that assumes particular significance is […]

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Czech Republic: Catholics of Central Europe” “

An international symposium as part of the Katholikentag of the Catholics of Central Europe (MEKT) is due to open in Brno in the Czech Republic on 12 March. “How will we live tomorrow? Strategies in view of the demographic trend in Europe” is the title of the meeting, which will end on 14 March. The […]

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dialogue " "

Morocco: Jews and Moslems for peace in the Middle East ” “

A hundred or so imams and rabbis will meet in Morocco, at the Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (close to Fez) from 31 May to 3 June to discuss the questions that are agitating the Middle East and the co-existence of the two religions in the world and to reaffirm that “peace and reconciliation are […]

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UK: a week dedicated to dialogue” “

From London to Birmingham to Dundee in Scotland: a week is being dedicated to inter-religious dialogue. Organized by the Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK and Ireland, the week of dialogue from 15 to 19 March is called “Let Us Believe” and consists in a series of seminars on Islamic-Christian and inter-religious dialogue […]

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Greece and France: arson attacks on mosques” “

Attacks have been launched against three mosques in Greece and France in recent days. In a small village in Thrace, in northeast Greece, a fire – its origin has still to be ascertained – seriously damaged a mosque. The local authorities have opened an inquest and no hypothesis, including that of a far-right attack, is […]

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Aid to Iraq” “

The European Commission adopted an action programme for the reconstruction of Iraq on 4 March. The EU aid, amounting to 160 million euros for the current year (over 40 million was already allocated in 2003), will be provided for projects and measures concerning three fundamental priorities. The first is the reconstruction and improvement of public […]

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Elderly workers” “

“How best to exploit the potential represented by elderly workers in the European Union”: that is the objective of the strategic document recently published by the European Commission. The document forms part of a programme of measures aimed at promoting the active ageing of the European population in order to improve employment both qualitatively and […]

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