The Catholic Church in the European Union
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union
COMECE received H.E. Macram Max Gassis, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese El Obeid in Sudan. The Bishop came to Brussels to draw attention to the suffering of the Nuba people. He called on the EU to contribute to a peaceful and just settlement of the ongoing conflict. In concrete terms, Mgr Gassis demanded the cessation of aerial bombings, the opening of relief corridors and that … Continue reading
In the Middle East, many women and men belonging to religious minorities, in particular Christians, are expelled from their homeland and become asylum seekers or are internally displaced. They have a right to return to their homes. This was the main message delivered by COMECE at the United Nations Global Summit on “Religion, Peace and Security” in Geneva on 23 – 25 November. COMECE Legal … Continue reading
COMECE participated in a Round Table at the EU Parliament on “Expectations and challenges to Iraqi National Reconciliation” organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio. Mgr Louis Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldean, asked the EU to support creation of reconciliation mechanisms and to prepare the post DAESH reconstruction through a roadmap involving all relevant actors.
COMECE participated in the 2nd European Congress for the Protection of Persecuted Christians in Krakow. The objective of this conference was to pinpoint the directions of legal and political action which should be taken to curb this cruel phenomenon. The Event under the Patronage of the President of Poland was organised by MEP Ryszard Legutko in cooperation with, among others, Aid to the Church in … Continue reading
It is beyond doubt that radicalisation is one of the increasing challenges for contemporary Europe; it often escalates – especially among youth — into various forms of extremism. It is represented primarily by radicalisation among Muslims and, often in response to this, by a revival of many European traditional forms of radicalism that relate to nationalism and xenophobia. The identity crisis of individuals is listed … Continue reading
COMECE welcomes today’s European Parliament’s resolution as a significant step forward in facilitating measures to prevent the on-going incipient genocide against Christians and other minorities. Pope Francis was among the first to use the word “genocide” to describe the systematic, barbarous, lethal attacks on Christian communities and on other vulnerable groups targeted on account of their religious affiliation. On 9 July 2015 the Pope stated: … Continue reading
A high-level conference on inter-faith dialogue and the situation of Christians around the world took place on Tuesday 1 December 2015, at the European Parliament, organised by Antonio Tajani, vice-president of Parliament, and attended by President Martin Schulz. During his intervention, the Vice-President of COMECE, Mgr. Jean Kockerols, Auxiliary Bishop of Malines-Bruxelles, stated “International peace programmes must include Christians, so that in those areas torn … Continue reading
Press 25/06/2013: COMECE welcomes the adoption today by the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU of New “EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief“. This new instrument provides the staff in the EEAS (External Action service), EU Delegations, Representations and Embassies with an operational set of tools to be used in relations with third-countries. It is designed … Continue reading
