women" "

EU and "reproductive rights"” “

The funds allocated by the European Union for support to demographic policies and programmes in the developing countries are, as things stand today, disciplined by Regulation no. 1484/97, which expires at the end of the year. To replace it, the European Parliament and the Council have presented a “Draft Regulation on support for policies and […]

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In place of the United States” “

The rapporteur of the new “Regulation on support for policies and actions concerning reproductive and sexual hygiene and connected rights in the developing countries” to the European Parliament’s Commission for development and cooperation is a Protestant woman pastor”. She is Ulla Margrethe Sandbaek , 59 years old, Danish, a graduate in theology, Protestant pastor, member […]

di Gian Andrea Garancini - Brussels" "" "

Curbing the abortion culture” “

There’s a risk that “as a side-effect of the effort of improving society and public health in the developing countries, a culture of abortion will be fomented on a far larger scale than what exists at the present time”, says Jan De Mol , the Dutch expert in international cooperation and consultant of various European […]

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The risk of a new colonialism” “

The European Community intends, with its new Regulation on support for policies and actions concerning reproductive and sexual hygiene, “to promote the recognition of reproductive and sexual rights, safe maternity and access for everyone to reliable services in the field of reproductive and sexual hygiene”. In fact, this commitment has already been assumed by the […]

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European bishops" "

Beyond the old frontiers ” “

“As Christians we must have the faith and the strength to affirm that frontiers must not become the cause of new conflicts, discrimination or exclusion”: that was the conclusion of the annual summer university promoted by the Commission of the European Community (Comece) and held at Celjie in Slovenia from 7 to 11 September. 35 […]

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investiments

” “The relaunch of Eastern Europe” “

The UN Conference on trade and development (UNCTAD) published its 2002 Report on investments in the world in recent days. The Report calculates the flows of direct foreign investment (DFI) of which the various countries are the beneficiaries and, at the same time, the ability of national economies to attract such investments, with particular attention […]

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" "" "France" "

” “The reasons of the "sans-papier"” “

Ever since the “sans-papier” (irregular immigrants) occupied the churches of Saint-Ambroise and Saint Bernard in Paris in 1996, the Catholic Church in France like others in Europe has been daily confronted by this problem for which a solution has still to be found; the problem is how to reconcile the needs of charity with the […]

di Maryvonne Gasse - Paris" "" "

Spain

” “The Church and ETA

In Spain the Basque separatist political party Batasuna – considered the political wing of the terrorist group ETA – has been banned since 26 August by order of the Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón and by parliamentary decision. The Congress has declared Batasuna illegal, by a provision voted by a large majority. On 17 September, the […]

di Miriam Díez Bosch – Spain" "" "" "

Two opposing assemblies

The “yes” of the Congress to the provision which declared illegal the Basque separatist party Batasuna obtained 295 votes in favour, 10 against and 29 abstentions. The debate only underlined the division of opinion between MPs on the matter. The leader of the PNB (Basque Nationalist Party), Iñaki Anasagasti, is of the view that to […]

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Russia

” “Further sufferings for Catholics” “

“An urgent request for help” to the international community and to all “men of good will” to do all in their power to “stop the violation of religious liberties and human rights” in Russia. The appeal is made by Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Moscow, president of the Russian Episcopal Conference, a few days after the […]

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