France: “secret poverty” in the countryside” “

A national session on pastoral care in rural areas, in which diocesan delegates and vicars-general and -episcopal participated, was held in Paris over the last few weeks. The theme of the meeting was: “The poles of ecclesial life that inspire the life of the Church in the rural world”. Some members of CMR (Christians of […]

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Albania" "

Pilgrimage regained” “

“For many years, Albania has followed its path of integration into Europe. This was also recognised by the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, on his visit to our country. Nonetheless, grave socio-economic problems persist and poverty, lack of structures and emigration are undermining the progress of development”. These are the thoughts of Msgr. […]

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Spain" "

On the Albacete railway disaster” “

“Profound grief for the terrible railway accident” which took place on the night between 3 and 4 June at Chinchilla (Albacete) in south-west Spain, was expressed by the Spanish bishops in a telegram sent to the archbishop of Albacete. The train, carrying 86 passengers and four railway workers, was travelling from Madrid to the coastal […]

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The Church against terrorism ” “

The Spanish Episcopal Conference has expressed its condemnation at the attack by the Basque separatist group ETA on 30 May which killed two policemen and gravely injured another at Sangüesa, fifty kilometres from Pamplona (Navarre). The Spanish bishops “firmly condemn this new terrorist attack that presupposes, on the part of the perpetrators, scorn for the […]

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Message for the Day of Charity” “

The message of the Spanish bishops of the Episcopal commission for social pastoral care for the Feast of Corpus Christi (22 June), day of charity, recalls that “the Eucharist involves us all in the commitment to transform social exclusion into a fraternal atmosphere of sharing. … In a society so deeply characterised by exclusion”, the […]

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eumenism" "

A new step together” “

“It is true that the springtime of ecumenism is over. Many dreams have not come true. Yet winter does not follow spring and neither does autumn; it is summer that comes, which brings its storms but also the slow growth and maturing of fruit. Ecumenism has entered this phase of maturity”. Cardinal Walter Kasper , […]

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Bible festival in Geneva” “

The “Bible Festival” opened in Geneva on 3 June (until 7 June). It is promoted by the Citizens’ Evangelical Society which for the occasion has organised an exhibition on the origins and history of the most widely available holy book in the world, translated into 2,303 languages. Readings in various languages of biblical passages divided […]

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The CCME against the trade in women” “

Various ecclesial organisations have advanced the request that urgent measures be adopted to put an end to the trade in women in the Czech Republic and to sensitise public opinion to this European emergency. “Even though the problem exists in all the countries of the continent, we ask the Czech government for greater commitment in […]

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A cruise for the environment” “

On 22 June, a number of leaders of Churches from England, Scotland, Ireland, Island, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden will up anchor from Egersund in southern Norway for a four-day cruise along the Norwegian coast intended to draw the attention of the public to the dangers threatening the North Sea. They will be led by […]

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Europe and the Middle East" "

So close, So neutral” “

A summit of foreign ministers from the Euro-Mediterranean partnership was held last week at Heraklion on the island of Crete. The order of the day was the resumption of inter-cultural dialogue in the region and, especially, the peace process in the Middle East. In order to examine more deeply Europe’s role in healing a conflict […]

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