EU policies for "sustainable development"” “

By “sustainable development” is meant the capacity to satisfy the needs of the present without compromising the possibilities for future generation to satisfy their own. “Agenda 21” is the global action plan for sustainable development adopted by the world conference of Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The primary objective of Agenda 21, composed of over […]

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Civil society makes itself heard” “

The world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg in South Africa, to be held from 26 August to 4 September, has long captured the attention of a hundred or so Catholic associations in France, but has aroused some misgivings on the part of the Catholic Committee against famine and for development (CCFD), the first French […]

di Maryvonne Gasse - Paris" "" "

United Kingdom

” “Anglicans: change of guard at the top

The appointment of the new archbishop of Canterbury was officially announced from no.10 Downing Street, residence of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on 23 July. He is to be the Rev. Rowan Williams, hitherto archbishop of Wales and bishop of Monmouth. He will take the place of George Carey who announced his retirement in January. […]

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Germany" "

Go-ahead to gay marriages” “

With 5 votes in favour and 3 against, the German constitutional court in Karlsruhe, in a sentence issued on 17 July, ascertained the constitutionality of the so-called “Law for the elimination of the discrimination against homosexual unions: unions for life” that regulates the juridical consequences of unions between homosexuals. On the basis of figures supplied […]

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EU: the conclusions of the general affairs Council ” “

The last meeting of the General Affairs Council of the EU before the summer break was held in Brussels on 22 July. The issues tackled included: the negotiations on enlargement with the first wave of ten candidate countries, and the question of refugees and displaced persons in the western Balkans (over 1 million of them). […]

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A European summit on the ethics of the mass media” “

The “social and ethical responsibility” of the means of communication will be discussed at the European Parliament on 29 and 30 August at the first “European summit of ethics”, promoted by the “European Ethics Network”, a coordination of associations founded with the aim of making an “ethical contribution” to the various social questions. The meeting […]

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KEK: xenotransplants and Christian morality ” “

Xenotransplants – transplants of animal cells, tissues and organs into a human being – are “morally problematic” but “not fundamentally wrong from a Christian point of view”. This technology should therefore be developed with a great deal of prudence. That’s the conclusion of a report on xenotransplants recently published by the working group on “Bioethics […]

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Austria: the "women priests" appeal” “

The deadline fixed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, threatening excommunication against the seven women who were the protagonists of an “ordination” ceremony, officiated by the schismatic bishop Romulo Braschi on 29 June, expired on 22 July. The women have announced that they want to lodge an “appeal” against their official reprimand […]

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Dailies and periodicals” “

“Toronto, the appointment of John Paul II”. that’s the headline that La Croix of 23/7 dedicates to the 17th World Youth Day now being held in the Canadian city; it is being attended by over 200,000 young people from all over the world. “Nothing could have dissuaded John Paul II from participating in the WYD”, […]

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agenda" "

EU legislation” “

In the course of last week the following legislative acts and communications, among others, came into force: · Framework Decision of the Council, of 13/6/2002, relating to the European arrest warrant and to the procedures for extraditions between member states (OGEC L 190/1, 18/7/2002); · Declarations of some member states on the adoption of the […]

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