|
21 October 2024
|
DIALOGUE WITH THE EU | Chair of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission meets with EP President Metsola
|
|
|
16 October - On the sidelines of a COMECE event at the European Parliament on the future of work in Europe, the chair of our Social Affairs Commission, Mgr. Joseph Galea-Curmi, had the opportunity to meet and exchange views with fellow Maltese, EP President Roberta Metsola. Photos
|
|
|
|
FUTURE OF WORK | Autumn meeting of the COMECE Social Affairs Commission
|
|
|
15-16 October - Mgr. Joseph Galea-Curmi presided over the 2024 autumn meeting of our Social Affairs Commission, held at the COMECE Secretariat in Brussels. The meeting primarily focused on the future of work in Europe, with particular attention to workers' rights, the impact on families and communities, work-life balance, and the evolving structure of working relationships. It also provided an opportunity to reflect on challenges related to climate and ecology, as well as the implications of recent technological advances, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The two-day meeting included a breakfast session hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Dennis Radtke. Photos
|
|
|
|
ART. 17 TFEU | Fruitful dialogue meeting on Freedom of Religion with the Hungarian EU Presidency
|
|
|
|
|
18 October - Our Adviser for Fundamental Rights & Article 17 TFEU, Alessandro Calcagno, participated in the conference "Shared Responsibility: Cooperation Between States and Religious Communities in Europe," organised in Budapest under the Hungarian EU Presidency.
|
|
In his intervention, he emphasised that similar events, where EU Presidencies engage in dialogue with Churches under Article 17 TFEU, should "be a regular feature of each EU semester and not be dependent solely on the goodwill of each rotating EU Presidency".
|
|
Calcagno particularly focused on Freedom of Religion and its protection within the EU, addressing all its dimensions, including the institutional one. He also stressed that "tolerance cannot replace the effective protection of fundamental rights" and called on the EU to take urgent action against intolerance and discrimination toward Christians in Europe, advocating for the appointment of an EU Coordinator responsible for this matter.
|
|
Regarding places of worship, the COMECE representative highlighted that their protection is important not only due to their symbolic significance, but also for their essential role in ensuring the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of religion. Read the News
|
|
|
|
FoRB | COMECE expresses concerns over "Polite Persecution" of Christian communities
|
|
|
11 October - During the conference "Freedom of Religion or Belief and tolerance for tradition: the challenge for the pluralistic west,” held alongside the Berlin Ministerial of the International FoRB Alliance (IRFBA), COMECE Adviser José Luis Bazán expressed concerns about "polite persecution, social-legal pressures undermining Christians' ability to live by their religious principles."
|
|
|
|
VIDEO | COMECE addresses Religion's role in Europe and EU Migration & Asylum policies at 2024 Krakow Conference
|
|
|
15 October - We invite you to check out the newly uploaded videos from the 2024 Krakow Conference, which include the intervention of COMECE General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto on the role of religion in Europe, as well as the one of COMECE Adviser José Luis Bazán on EU migration and asylum policies. Watch the videos
|
|
|
|
FoRB | COMECE participates in Hungarian EU Presidency meeting on intolerance and discrimination against Christians in the West
|
|
|
8 October - COMECE participated in the seminar “Intolerance & discrimination of Christians in the West”, held in Budapest by the Hungarian EU Presidency. Our Adviser José Luis Bazán stressed that "attacks against Christians are rising, and they are often underreported, invisible to public opinion, and lack due response from authorities".
|
|
|
|
OPPORTUNITY | COMECE co-organises the conference "Is there a just war?"
|
|
|
21 October - We invite you to participate in the conference "Is there a Just War? European Values in Times of Aggression," to be held on Friday, 25 October 2024, at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. COMECE President Mgr. Mariano Crociata will deliver the institutional greetings, while General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto and Adviser Marek Misak will participate in two panels: "The Protection of Human Dignity during War" and "War – A Remedy Against Dictatorship, Terror, and Crimes Against Humanity?." Info & Registration
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE | CEI organises conference on health inequalities in Europe
|
|
|
18 September - L'Ufficio Nazionale per la pastorale della salute is organising a conference on health inequalities in Europe. The event will take place in Rome, at the Pontifical Lateran University, on Friday 22nd November 2024, from 14:00 to 19:00 (CET). The list of speakers also includes Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Secretary of State, Holy See), Mgr Mariano Crociata (President of COMECE), and Mario Draghi (former President of the European Central Bank). The programme is still being developed. Further information, including the final list of speakers, will be shared in the coming weeks.
|
|
|
|
VIDEO | Mgr. Hérouard describes the cathedral of Dijon in the context of the "Cathedrals 2024" project
|
|
|
21 October - As part of the "Cathedrals 2024" project, launched by the French Bishops' Conference, French dioceses are putting a spotlight on their local cathedrals in anticipation of the grand reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris on December 7-8, 2024.
|
|
The initiative invites all Catholic faithful and residents across France to rediscover and celebrate their own cathedral's rich heritage and spiritual significance.
|
|
In this context, Mgr. Antoine Hérouard, Archbishop of Dijon and First Vice-President of COMECE, appears in a video where he presents and describes the history and significance of the Cathedral of Dijon, highlighting its important role in Christian heritage. Watch the video | "Cathedrals 2024" project
|
|
|
|
Next at COMECE
21 October
Autumn meeting of the COMECE Youth Net.
|
21-23 October
Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will be at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for its plenary session.
|
25 October
COMECE President Mgr. Mariano Crociata, General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto and Adviser Marek Misak will participate in the event “European Future Talks 2024 – Is there a just war? European values in times of aggression”, to be held at the Pontificia Universita’ Gregoriana, Rome.
|
29-30 October
Meeting of experts of EU Military Ordinariates to take place in Brussels.
|
31 October
A group of theology students of KU Leuven will visit the Secretariat of COMECE.
|
5-7 November
COMECE General Secretary Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto will participate in the 2024 CCEE-CEC Joint Committee.
|
13-15 November
COMECE adviser Alessandro Calcagno will participate in the European Conference on Child Safeguarding in the Catholic Church, organised in Rome by the Pontifical Commission for Protection of Minors.
|
|
2024 Autumn Plenary Assembly of COMECE to be held in Brussels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences
of the European Union
|
Communication & Press Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
