Belgium: the year of "diakonia"” “

The Belgian Bishops’ Conference recently presented its pastoral plan for 2002-3. Called ‘Year of diakonia’, it is the result of a reflection already anticipated in the Declaration “The mission of Christians in the world” of January 2001. “Placing one’s own life at the service of one’s fellowmen and of a just society is not a […]

di Redazione

Germany: one religion among others?” “

The autumn plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference was held in Fulda from 23 to 26 September. Chaired by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, archbishop of Mainz, it discussed eight main questions: interreligious dialogue, pastoral ministry, liturgy, ecumenism, questions relating to faith and to the universal Church, social issues and lastly the “mid-term thematic plan” of […]

di Redazione

universities" "

A "feeling in common"” “

Realizing a “European space of higher education by 2010: that is the ambitious objective of European universities, to give concrete form to the goals set out in the previous declarations of Paris (1998), Bologna (1999) and Prague (2001). The objective was discussed by Rafael Puyol Antolin , rector of the Complutensian University of Madrid, on […]

di Redazione

immigrants" "

Turkey: a meeting of the European churches” “

“Women and families in migrations” is the theme of the seminar organized by the CCEE (Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe) to be held in Smyrna, in Turkey, from 9 to 14 October. It will be attended by the bishop delegates and the national directors for the pastoral care of migrants. The theme “is […]

di Redazione

France: from reception to integration” “

The ever increasing numbers of immigrants in France influence pastoral practices. Immigation is an inescapable reality in all pastoral plans. In 2001 alone, French Caritas provided accommodation to 12,000 asylum-seekers. That’s one of the findings that emerged from the conference held in Paris on 28 September on the theme: “The Church and immigrants, a future […]

di Redazione

globalization" "

An opportunity and a challenge” “

The participation of the poor countries in international trade is the presupposition to ensure solidarity in globalization: so says a document put out at the end of a meeting of the executive committee of COMECE, the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, held in Brussels on 30 September. In October 2001, the COMECE […]

di Redazione

the Convention" "

The churches write to Giscard” “

The Christian churches have written to the president of the Convention on the future of Europe, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, to ask for recognition in the future constitutional treaty of the European Union. The letter dated 27 September bears the signature of Msgr. Noël Treanor, general secretary of COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European […]

di Redazione

The "problem" of foreign policy” “

Academics and politicians, both Italian and European, met together for two days in Naples on 26 and 27 September to discuss the question of the “European political system”, in the course of an international conference promoted by the Centre for Research on European Institutions (CRIE), the European Commission and the Suor Orsola Benincasa university institute […]

di Redazione

Defending fundamental rights ” “

Is a European constitution necessary? And what characteristics ought it to have? These questions are currently being addressed by the Convention on the future of Europe. The many problems to be addressed also includes that of how to recognize and turn to account the “Christian roots of Europe”. The issue was discussed at the round […]

di Redazione

European Union" "

The vote on reproductive health deferred” “

The vote of the Commission for development and cooperation of the European Parliament on reproductive health, scheduled for 2 October, has been deferred to its next meeting in November. The vote in question is on the “draft regulation of the European Parliament and Council on support for policies and actions regarding reproductive and sexual hygiene […]

di Redazione