Estonia” “

“Estonian society is waiting with some optimism for the successful conclusion of its integration into the European Union. The majority of the population is in favour of such a step, but there’s also an important minority of eurosceptics who especially fear, on the basis of past experience, a threat to the country’s real independence, a […]

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the Convention" "

Greater democracy, greater effectiveness, greater simplicity” “

Its agenda included the presentation of three final reports by specialized work groups but the attention of the twelfth plenary session of the Convention on the future of Europe (Brussels, 5-6/12/2002) especially focused on the contribution of the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, to the debate on the future European Constitution. “Penelope”. The […]

di Gian Andrea Garancini - Brussels" "" "" "" "

Serbia" "

Stalemate at the ballot box” “

Not even this time did Vojislav Kostunica succeed in being elected president of Serbia. For the third time in four months, the presidential elections on Sunday 8 December failed to reach the necessary quorum, 50% plus one of the electors. Kostunica, current president of the Yugoslav Federation (comprising Serbia, Vojvodina, Kossovo and Montenegro), was confirmed […]

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Turkey

” “Youth, families, and society at large

The ecclesial assembly of the Turkish Church was held in Istanbul from 5 to 8 December. It brought together delegates of the various Catholic communities (Latin, Armenian, Syriac and Chaldaean) in Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Antioch, Adana, Mersin, Urfa, Trabzon). It was an important meeting which concluded a process lasting four years. It was in fact […]

di Aylin M. Kiziler - Istanbul" "" "

Turkish Church: it’s now the turn of the dioceses” “

“It was a particularly laborious assembly. Our faithful are few and far between, scattered over a huge territory. So the first aim was to bring together all their representatives. And this meeting will be remembered as the first of its kind for our Church”. Satisfaction was expressed by Msgr. Louis Pelâtre, vicar apostolic of Istanbul, […]

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Germany" "

Cardinal Lehman: "Save Christmas!"” “

“Even though many people in our country no longer live in the Christian faith, Christmas continues to retain its meaning for almost everyone”: so says Cardinal Lehmann, president of the German Episcopal Conference and archbishop of Mainz, in an article published in the paper of the bishopric of Mainz, Glauben und Leben. Deploring the use […]

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Ecumenism on the Internet” “

With the start of Advent, a new ecumenical venture has been born in Germany. Promoted by German Catholic Action (ZdK) in collaboration with the Johann-Adam-Möhler institute for ecumenism in Paderborn, the religious institute of the evangelical league in Bensheim and the ecumenical institute of the Catholic faculty of theology in Münster, the project is an […]

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The culture of Sunday” “

Various exponents of German Catholic life have made recent pronouncements on the need to protect the “culture of Sunday”, in other words the need to abstain from work on Sundays and preserve it as a day of rest. “In recognition of the culture of Sunday, indispensable both for the individual and for society at large”, […]

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Catholic schools" "

Rooted in the family” “

An ever growing number of parents are choosing schools of Catholic type for their children. That’s what emerges from a survey recently conducted by OE-GIAPEC, an umbrella association representing the parents of children attending European Catholic schools. Recognized as a non-governmental organization by the EU, it is linked, at the world level, with the European […]

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Scottish bishops: Catholic schools are not sectarian” “

The support of Catholic bishops for Catholic schools was strongly reaffirmed during the meeting of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference which ended in Glasgow on 11 December. The bishops repudiated recent criticisms voiced in the media about confessional education. “We are astonished and dismayed”, say the bishops in a communiqué, by those who seek to find […]

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