A delegation from COMECE, together with CEC, met in Sofia on 8 May with the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ekaterina Zakharieva, to exchange views on the priorities of the Bulgarian EU Council Presidency. On this occasion, the COMECE delegation led by H. E. Mgr. Christo Proykov, Bishop delegate from Bulgaria, presented a joint reflection elaborated with his Bishops’ Conference on the … Continue reading »

“I dream of a new Europe based on solidarity and courage, capable of being a common home for everyone”, stated H. Em. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti during his first official visit to the EU institutions as President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI) on 22-25 April. As a sign of the great interest of the Italian Church for the European project, Cardinal Bassetti, together with Mgr. … Continue reading »

COMECE President, Archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich S.J., met yesterday, 18 April 2018, with Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EU Commission. During their first official meeting since the election of Mgr. Hollerich in March 2018, the two leaders exchanged on current European challenges and explored ways to strengthen the dialogue between the Church and the EU in order to put back the human person at … Continue reading »

A delegation led by H. Em. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), will come to Brussels on 22-25 April 2018 in order to exchange with high-level officials on the realities of the EU from the perspective of the Italian Church. Cardinal Bassetti’s visit shows the European dimension of the Italian Church, strongly committed to face current challenges and work for the … Continue reading »

“Criminalising male circumcision might endanger the whole system of fundamental rights, as well as the Rule of Law”, stated COMECE General Secretary fr. Olivier Poquillon op during the conference on “Religious rituals and fundamental rights” held last Tuesday 10th of April 2018 at the European Parliament. The event is a reaction to the legislative initiatives proposed in Iceland and Denmark in order to criminalise circumcision … Continue reading »

In continuity with Pope Francis’ recent condemnation of fake news as a tool to isolate, divide, and oppose people, and ultimately to hinder dialogue, COMECE participated to the Public consultation on fake news and online disinformation carried out by the European Commission with the aim of developing an effective strategy tackling the phenomenon. “Spreading fake news – the Pope said during the World Communications Day … Continue reading »

The COMECE Legal Affairs Commission – an instrument of exchange among national Church experts and dialogue with the EU institutions – gathered on March 20th 2018 under the Presidency of Mgr. Hoogenboom to debate on number of topics relevant to the status of Churches in the Member States (Article 17(1) TFEU). In this context, participants also exchanged on case law – at the EU Court … Continue reading »

Following the latest developments concerning circumcision and kosher meat processing across Europe, COMECE, together with the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC) and other partners, co-organises the Conference on “Religious Rituals and Fundamental Rights”. The event will take place in the European Parliament (Room A5H-1) on April 10th, 2018, from 16h00 to 18h00, and will be hosted by the EPP Group Interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Speakers … Continue reading »

COMECE President Cardinal Reinhard Marx reacts to the ban on the circumcision on boys proposed in Iceland by members of the Parliament from five different political parties. “The proposed bill is a dangerous attack on freedom of religion”, states the Cardinal, urging the EU institutions to take action in order to prevent such a threat to fundamental rights. The bill suggests up to a six-year … Continue reading »

Pope Francis released a message condemning “fake news”, saying that it’s a “sign of intolerant and hypersensitive attitudes, and leads only to the spread of arrogance and hatred”. In his message for the World Communications Day, the Holy Father highlighted the importance of Communication as “part of God’s plan for us and an essential way to experience fellowship”. He warned all media operators about the … Continue reading »