France: not only dialogue

In France, the Moslem associations this year fixed 7 November as the beginning of the month of Ramadan. It will structure the life of some 4.6 million people for 29 days. France is in fact the European country with the largest Moslem population: from 4 to 4.6 million Moslems are estimated to be resident on […]

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” “Germany: the welcome of Catholics” “

“Time for meditation and reflection”: that’s how Ramadan is defined in the message of the Islamic Council of the Federal Republic of Germany, issued on 6 November, on the eve of the beginning of the month of fasting. In a communiqué, Ali Kizilkaya , president of the organization, announced: “In this month we also include […]

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How many Moslems are there in Germany?

It is estimated that 2,400,000 Moslems are living in Germany, subdivided into immigrants from Turkey ( c.1,920,000), Iran ( c.115,000), the Middle East ( c.95,000), Africa ( c.143,000) and Asia ( c.127.000). The majority of them live in the western part of the country; only some 60.000 Moslems live in the former East Germany. Several […]

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” “United Kingdom: a free meal

Sunni Moslems, Shiites, Ismailis… they all celebrate Ramadan in the same period. It’s an occasion for sharing and dialogue. With approximately 2 million Moslems (concentrated in the big cities such as London, but also in Bradford, Leicester and in Scotland) out of a total population of 60 million, Great Britain has long come to terms […]

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ecumenism" "

Taizé: thousands prepare for their meeting in Paris” “

The 25th European youth meeting animated by the Taizé ecumenical community will be held in Paris from 28 December to 1st January. Tens of thousands of youngsters from all over Europe (some 70,000 attended last year’s meeting in Budapest) will be given hospitality in over 100 parishes in the Ile-de-France. Returning to the sources of […]

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Europe: Cardinal Kasper, making the voice of Christians heard” “

If the Christian Churches in Europe, and in particular the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches, “speak together, their voice is stronger, and their voice is more listened to if they speak in favour of justice. It’s an issue on which there are no theological differences and on which we can give an example that […]

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Christmas: messages of hope from the Churches” “

A Christmas reeling from the shock of terrorist attacks in Bali and Moscow, seared by the conflict in the Middle East, and lived in the fear of new natural disasters. This, combined with an appeal not to “follow blindly those who promise and propose security” to the detriment of solidarity, but to “break the vicious […]

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Nuclear weapons: letter to Nato ” “

“Nato’s retention of nuclear weapons violates moral and legal responsibility and represents a threat for global security”. So says the WCC in a letter sent to Nato on 14 November. Signed by the head of the WCC’s “Churches and international affairs” Commission, the letter makes reference to a sentence of the International Court of Justice […]

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Switzerland: referendum on right to asylum” “

With “great relief” the Swiss bishops heard the news of the defeat of the popular referendum asking for further restrictions on the right to asylum. In a statement issued after the results were announced, the bishops reaffirmed “their support for a policy of solidarity towards foreigners and refugees”. On Sunday 24th, the Swiss people were […]

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Galicia: three bishops against the "mafia" of the sea” “

The three bishops responsible for the maritime apostolate in Spain, Portugal and France have denounced those responsible for the environmental and social disaster caused by the sinking of the oil tanker “Prestige” off the Galician coast, pointing their finger firmly against “a minority of powerful businesses, coalitions of interest and mafia-like ways of conducting affairs”, […]

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