Category Archives: Press

Press

News

Cardinal Marx: “To regain confidence takes concrete solutions”

At the 10th Summit of religious leaders of various religions and denominations, Cardinal Reinhard Marx led the delegation of the Catholic Church, which comprised Jean-Pierre Grallet, Archbishop of Strasbourg and COMECE member, and Professor Margaret S. Archer, head of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The hosts of this meeting at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels were the Presidents of the European Commission and … Continue reading »

Ethics, Research & Health, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

COMECE Secretariat regrets EU Commission’s decision on the ‘One of Us’ citizens’ initiative

The European Commission decided on 28 May not to submit any legislative proposal as a reply to the European Citizens Initiative ‘One of Us’. This initiative asked for the ending of the EU financing of activities which presuppose the destruction of human embryos, in particular in the areas of research (projects making use of human embryonic stem cells – hESC) and development cooperation (abortion, either … Continue reading »

Press

News

Cardinal Marx congratulates Herman Van Rompuy on being awarded the Charlemagne Prize: “An exemplary passion for Europe”

The President of the German Bishops’ Conference and President of COMECE, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has congratulated the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy on being awarded this year’s Charlemagne Prize. Mr Van Rompuy received the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen today. In a letter to Mr Van Rompuy, Cardinal Marx called the winner of the 2014 Charlemagne Prize as a true mediator of the … Continue reading »

Press

News

Cardinal Marx : “Globalisation: the challenge for us as Europeans”

In an interview given to the French daily newspaper la Croix the President of COMECE, Reinhard Cardinal Marx, shared his view of the role Christians should play in the process of European construction. “It is essential in today’s pluralist Europe, that we be in touch with our roots and that the voice of religion should continue to be heard. We have the duty to announce … Continue reading »

Press

News

The 2004 EU-Enlargement – a true reunification of Europe

“Ten years down the road from Eastwards enlargement of the EU, we still need to work to draw the different parts of Europe together”, so declares COMECE President Reinhard Cardinal Marx on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Eastern Enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004. When the European Union underwent the biggest enlargement in its history on 1 May 2004, many … Continue reading »

Press

Invitation

EU elections: A discussion with Cardinal Marx and the presentation of the COMECE election statement

The next European elections are vital for our democracy: all citizens are called upon to cast their vote next 22-25 May to select the future European Parliament for 2014-2019. The outcome will greatly determine the direction taken by the EU for the next half decade and will have major implications for the people of Europe. The severe economic and social crisis is fuelling nationalism and … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

COMECE Statement on the European Elections 2014

The Catholic Bishops of Europe publish today a Statement in view of the upcoming European elections. In this text, they reaffirm their support for the European project. They encourage all citizens of the European Union to go to the polling booths on the 22nd and 25th May, and to start engaging, during the run-up to the election, in constructive dialogue with their MEP’s and those … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

COMECE 2014 Spring Plenary Assembly

The COMECE Spring Plenary Assembly opens today. 20 Bishops from all over Europe will attend the 3 day closed meeting, whose main theme is ‘the EU seen from the outside’. The lull in legislative activity during the elections and the resulting period of change and adjustment in the EU institutions offers an opportunity to take a look at the European Union from a fresh angle. … Continue reading »

Plenary Assembly, Press

Press Release

Opening Speech of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, COMECE President, to the COMECE 2014 Spring Plenary Assembly

In the last few weeks, images of dramatic scenes have been piped into our homes with perturbing regularity. The upheaval in Ukraine has not only dominated the headlines and monopolised the attention of the people of Europe; it has also moved us deeply. It started with week-long protests and a dramatic struggle for sovereignty in Kiev and then in other parts of the country, and … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

COMECE-CEC joint statement following on the meeting with the Greek EU Presidency. “Social Cohesion in the EU must be strengthened”

On 10 January 2014, three days after the official start of the Greek EU Presidency, the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister with specific responsibility for European Affairs, Dimitris KOURKOULAS, received a delegation of senior Greek and European churchmen in Athens. Also in attendance were senior officials from the Foreign Ministry. The aim of this meeting, one in a long-standing series of high-level encounters between Church representatives … Continue reading »