france " "

The future of secularism” “

What we need is not a “repressive and discriminatory secularism that is the source of exclusion”, but “an intelligent and understanding secularism” because “our fragile society has a need for common values, not for new forms of exclusion”: so declared Bishop CLAUDE DAGENS of Angoulême, in his recent address to the Conference “The future of […]

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youth " "

Responses to daily violence” “

Vandalism, forced prostitution, alcohol and drug abuse in schools, in the family and, more in general, in society: “The security of individuals is threatened in everyday life in many places and in various circumstances: at home, at school, at work, in sport, on the street”. The victims are especially women, children, the elderly, but also […]

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Switzerland: the 1st rally of Catholic youth” “

Preparations for the first national meeting of Swiss Catholic youth, due to be held in Bern on 5/6 June, continue uninterruptedly. A hundred or so staff are working full time on the organization of the event, complicated by the uncertain presence of the Pope, as explained by the spokesman of the Swiss bishops, Marc Aellen: […]

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Great Britain" "

In defence of the family” “” “

On Sunday, 1st February, in his weekly Angelus address, John Paul II once again appealed for “a more organic policy in support of the family”. “Many spouses – said the Pope – would like to have more children, but are almost forced to give this up due to economic difficulties. The aid of the public […]

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Spain: the family at risk” “

Spain risks becoming a country of zero demographic growth, with a “post-Christian culture averse to life and without hope”: the dire warning is given by the bishops in charge of the family ministry in the new family Directory recently published by the Episcopal Conference. The 250-page manual was officially presented in Madrid on 2 February. […]

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anglicans " "

Progress and obstacles” “

Papal authority, sexuality, liturgy, pastoral ministry, and rights of immigrants, on whose behalf appeals were made for the acceleration of asylum procedures: these were some of the main issues discussed at the Anglican Synod, the body that governs the Church of England, which met in London last week. Below we present a résumé of the […]

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ecumenism" "

Lutherans and Reformed: dossier on Church and homosexuality ” “

Church and homosexuality: the issue is being hotly debated not only in the Anglican world where the archbishop of Canterbury has set up an international Commission to study the question, but also in France, where the Lutheran and Reformed Church has published a dossier on the question. It contains the reflections that emerged at the […]

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Orthodox-Catholic dialogue: St. Egidio’s meeting with Alexis II” “

A few days after the meeting between Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and Alexis II, a Catholic delegation of the St. Egidio Community, led by the bishop of Terni, Msgr. Vincenzo Paglia, was received by the Patriarch in Moscow. During the meeting – says a press release issued by […]

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Moscow: criticism of the French law on religious signs ” “

The Russian Orthodox Church has also criticized the French law banning religious signs from state schools (Moslem headscarves, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crosses). “All this – commented Vsevolod Tchaplin, vice-president of the Department of foreign relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, during an interview with the Interfax press agency – reminds us of the Soviet […]

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" "CARITAS EUROPA" "

Il volto della povertà” “” “

Regimi fiscali favorevoli alla famiglia, programmi governativi per ridurre la disoccupazione di lungo periodo e aiutare i giovani a trovare la prima occupazione, politiche nazionali di sostegno alle famiglie in ambito sanitario ed educativo, con particolare attenzione al fenomeno delle “madri sole”. Sono queste le richieste formulate da Caritas Europa, un network che riunisce 48 […]

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