25/11/2019
COMECE contribution on Promotion of places of workship in the EU (EN)
Category Archives: International Religious Freedom
COMECE supports an ambitious and coherent human rights’ policy based on the transcendent dignity of every human being.
While embracing the vision that the fundamental and inalienable right to religious freedom is the cornerstone of all human rights, it supports the view that EU decision-makers and officers should pay special attention to this fundamental right, in particular in its external relations.
To promote religious freedom and more generally, peace, justice and liberty, COMECE is also involved in ecumenical, intercultural and interreligious dialogues.
Invitation
COMECE invites you to participate in a public conference on Trafficking in Human Beings
Five years after the joint Declaration of religious leaders against modern slavery, COMECE and Don Bosco International organise a public event on how to counter Trafficking in Human Beings, with the participation of MEP Pietro Bartolo (S&D). The conference will take place at the European Parliament (Room ASP-A5E3), Brussels, on Monday 2 December 2019 from 15h00 to 17h00. The event will be hosted by MEP … Continue reading
Press Release
COMECE accompanies Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad to the EU
COMECE accompanied His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako I, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, in his 2-day visit to Europe addressing EU representatives and policy makers on the reconstruction of Iraq and the challenge of reconciliation among Iraqis. Although major military operations concluded in late 2017, the humanitarian crisis in Iraq is far from being over. According to recent statistics, 8.7 million people – … Continue reading
NEWS
COMECE calls the EU to promote long term resilience in Syria
COMECE urges the EU to support Syrian people to overcome their immediate humanitarian needs and to promote their long term resilience. The call came on Wednesday 3 April 2019 during the conference “The next day in Syria: a path towards the resilience of Syrian people” co-organised at the European Parliament by COMECE and its ecumenical and political partners. After six years of war, people in … Continue reading
NEWS
EP gives new impetus to Freedom of Religion outside the EU
The European Parliament adopted on 15 January 2019 the resolution on the EU guidelines and the mandate of the EU Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion outside the European Union. COMECE welcomes the adoption of this resolution as it enhances the community dimension of the fundamental right to religious freedom, including the recognition of legal personality to communities in the framework of International Law (Art. … Continue reading
NEWS
COMECE: “freedom of religion is a cornerstone of human rights”
COMECE reaffirmed the fundamental right to Freedom of Religion (FoRB) during a meeting at the EU Parliament on 5 November, highlighting the problem of religious illiteracy and the need to reinforce the EU mechanism for its protection. Organised by MEP Andrzej Grzyb (EPP), the event gathered Mairead McGuinness, Vicepresident of the EU Parliament, Jan Figel, EU Special Envoy on FoRB, and representatives of Churches, religious … Continue reading
NEWS
COMECE urges the EU to better protect and promote Freedom of Religion
Statistics show that more than 70% of the global population suffers from restrictions on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). COMECE urges the EU to intensify its external action to promote the fundamental right of freedom of religion and full citizenship for all members of the communities where freedom of religious minorities are restricted. The European Parliament analysed the issue of Freedom of Religion or … Continue reading
NEWS
DRC, calling on all actors to achieve peace and democracy
Six people were killed in Kinshasa on 21 January during demonstrations against delayed elections and the continuation of President Kabila’s mandate. Other 57 people were injured, and 111 were arrested across the country. According to the United Nations (UN), most of the victims were Catholic faithful who peacefully protested after attending Sunday Masses. Pope Francis appealed to authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) … Continue reading
NEWS
Syriac-Catholic Patriarch visits COMECE
A high-level delegation of bishops from the Middle East visited COMECE and met with Christian organisations to talk about the condition of Christian minorities in Syria and Iraq. His Beatitude Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Syriac-Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, together with Mgr. Antoine Chahda, Archbishop of Aleppo, highlighted the dramatic situation of Syrian and Iraqi people, shattered since many years with widespread violence. The two bishops … Continue reading
NEWS
National Council of Churches of Kenya visits COMECE
COMECE received a delegation from the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) led by its General Secretary Rev. Canon Peter Karanja. The delegation came to Brussels to draw attention to the fragile political situation in Kenya ahead of the upcoming national elections In cooperation with the Catholic Church in Kenya, NCCK is closely monitoring the political processes during and after the elections slated for … Continue reading