Russia

“The situation of the migratory phenomenon also concerns a vast country like Russia, which has registered an accentuation of the internal movements of population in recent years”, says Father Michael Ryan, from Ireland, parish priest of the parish of “Our Lady of Hope” in Moscow and president of Caritas in the Russian capital. “It’s very […]

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” “Spain

Prison may be “an opportunity for Christian and Muslim immigrants to discover compassion and brotherly help”. Convinced of this is Father José Sesma León, director of pastoral care in prisons within the Spanish Episcopal Conference. Father León was one of the participants at the meeting of prison chaplains “Interconfessional relations in prisons. Catholic chaplaincy and […]

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Portugal

In Portugal the Catholic organizations are contesting the new law on immigration approved last week. In a document presented to the President of the Republic on 10 December, the organizations – including the Catholic charity for immigrants run by the Episcopal Conference, Portuguese Caritas, and the Jesuit Service for Refugees – listed a series of […]

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Italy

How can the Gospel be brought to immigrants? The question will be addressed by over 500 participants from dioceses all over Italy at the national conference with the title “All the peoples shall come to You. The mission Ad Gentes in our country”. Promoted – for the first time jointly – by three offices headed […]

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abortion" "

A deplorable vote” “” “

“The funds of the European Union (EU) should not be used to finance abortion in the developing countries”. That’s the position emphasized by the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community (Comece), in a press release following the European Parliament’s adoption, on 13 February, of the Report of Mep Ulla M. Sandbaek, modifying the […]

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United Kingdom

“The Sandbaek Report signals a new regulation that will determine the EU’s aid policies abroad over the next five years. It obliges the EU to use its own funds to assist the promotion of the recognition of the rights of reproductive and sexual hygiene” through a series of health services that, according to the World […]

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" "" "Eu-Africa

” “Critical conscience

Africa and Europe united in an exchange of values and a partnership built on new foundations, also at the economic and cultural levels: that’s the hope of Eugenio José da Cruz Fonseca, president of Caritas Portugal and representative of Caritas Europe, who will participate in the meeting on “Africa and the European Union: partners in […]

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" "European Union

” “Notes for the Agenda

Following the Executive’s adoption, on 12 February, of the “Third Annual Report on the situation of the EU’s social policy Agenda”, SirEurope has gathered the views of trades unions and industry, in particular the general Secretary of the European Trades-Union Confederation, Emilio Gabaglio, and the Union of Industries of the European Community (UNICE). Commission: the […]

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France

” “Huge programme of reflection” “

The French Church has decided to focus on catechesis and has distributed a document with the title “Going to the Heart of the Faith” in religious bookshops throughout the country”. In the document, the bishops invite Catholic communities to respond to the provocations offered at the end of each paragraph and to send in their […]

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christian roots

” “In spite of or thanks to?

European Constitution: deadline for amendments expires. The deadline for the presentation of amendments to the first sixteen articles of the draft European Constitution expired on 17 February. A total of 225 amendments have been received. Over a quarter of them concern the first three articles: Institutions of the Union, Values of the Union, Objectives of […]

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