‘No’ to the banalization of sex” “

Harsh criticism of the media and society in the UK, that are so obsessed by sex that they forget the values of love and the family, has been made by the Catholic Primate of England and Wales Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor in a speech to the Society of Theology at the University of Wales. “We confuse […]

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european trades unions " "

The failure of neo-liberalism” “

The spring summit of the European Union is traditionally dedicated to economic questions. The following issues, among others, are on the agenda of the European Council of 25/26 March: the “Lisbon Strategy” aimed at turning the EU into “the most competitive economy in the world by 2010”; EU financial prospects for the next decade; and […]

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Wall in the Middle East” “

While the International Court of The Hague has finished its first round of sessions to rule on the possible illegality of the wall that Israel is erecting on the West Bank (44 countries have presented written depositions and 14 delegations intervened in the courtroom), the European Union – which has sent no representative to The […]

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Funding to the Regions” “

A book on “The Thematic Funds of the European Union – an Opportunity for the Italian Regions” was presented at the European Parliament in Brussels on 25 February. Coordinated by PORE (“Project Opportunities of the Regions in Europe”), an agency run by the department of regional affairs under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, […]

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European Arrest Warrant” “

During the meeting of the Justice and Internal Affairs Council in Brussels last week, Ministers confirmed the timetable that provides for the entry into force of the European Arrest Warrant by the end of this year. The Directive approved last year had stipulated 31 December 2003 as the deadline for member states to adopt the […]

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Employment: equal opportunities” “

The European Commission has drawn up its first ‘Annual Report on progress made in the integration of the man-woman dimension in the various strategic sectors’. The Report, which will be presented to the Spring Summit of 25/26 March, underlines its concern about the fact that ‘the persistent inequalities between men and women in the EU […]

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lent (2)" "

Seven weeks without…” “

We continue our review of Lenten activities in the European Churches (see SIR 13/2004). Russia Fasting, prayer, culture, and ecumenical exchange: that’s what Lent brings even in the city like Moscow. The programme of events was described to us by Salesian Father Augustyn Dziedziel, involved in pastoral care at the cathedral of the Immaculate Conception […]

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germany " "

Stopping the delirium” “

“Human life degraded to a deposit of spare parts”: that’s the comment of Cardinal KARL LEHMANN , president of the German Bishops’ Conference, on the recent news from South Korea about the cloning of human embryos. “Not even a presumed medical utility, though even that is very far from having been demonstrated, may justify any […]

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Great britain " "

Atheism is not a religion” “

“Atheism is not a religion”: that’s the view expressed by Oona Stannard, director of the Catholic Education Service in the UK, in dismissing a recent declaration of the Institute of Public Policy Research on the need to insert the study of atheism in religious education in schools. “By studying religious education (RE) – says Stannard […]

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Taxes, sign of solidarity” “

Taxes? “They are a sign of our solidarity with others”. Therefore it is “a moral duty” to pay them: so say the English bishops in a 40-page booklet dedicated precisely to that: the payment of taxes. The booklet, with the title “Taxes for the Common Good”, was written by the department of “Christian responsibility and […]

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