Category Archives: Press

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

News

Unified political response needed to current migrant crisis

Joint Statement of Bishop Christopher Hill, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and Cardinal Reinhard Marx, President of the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Community (ComECE) : The European family of nations finds itself confronting a humanitarian crisis on a scale without precedent in its post-war history. Civil war in Syria, widespread political instability in other areas of the Middle East … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Plenary Assembly, Policy Areas, Press

News

Mass for Europe. Archbishop Hollerich: “It is our duty as Christians to welcome the refugees”

Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich, member Bishop of COMECE and Archbishop of Luxembourg, the Member State currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU, was invited to deliver the homily during the Mass for Europe, celebrated in Brussels on 23 September. At the very moment when an extraordinary European Council was being held in Brussels on the refugee crisis, Archbishop Hollerich urged Christians to show … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

Presidents of CEC and COMECE meet in Munich

The following is a joint press release from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). The presidents of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) met in Munich on 18 September to discuss issues of deep concern to the churches of Europe as ongoing … Continue reading »

Migration & Asylum, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

The Refugee crisis requires a common European solution

Statement of the Standing Committee of COMECE, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, on the current refugee crisis and the debate on a common European migration and asylum policy. The flux of refugees to Europe places the countries on our continent before enormous challenges. Yet these challenges can be overcome, if we Europeans consider them as a shared responsibility and cooperate … Continue reading »

Policy Areas, Press, Social & Economic Affairs

News

Cardinal Marx : ‘Europe is a project of reconciliation, not of division’

Statement of the President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), Reinhard Cardinal Marx, on the Greek crisis. ‘Long days and nights of nerve-wrecking negotiations lie behind us. The Greek crisis of recent weeks has preoccupied not only our political leaders but also each and every European citizen, living with the uncertainty as to whether or not the crisis would … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

News

‘Laudato Si: a revolutionary Message’

What is the impact of the Encyclical « Laudato Si » on the European Union ? How do EU Politicians interpret the key messages conveyed by Pope Francis his encyclical letter ? To find out, COMECE organised a Luncheon Debate in Brussels on 25 June, confronting a theologian with a member of the European Parliament. Father Sean McDonagh Irish Eco-theologian, missionary priest, best-selling author on … Continue reading »

Ecology & Sustainability, Policy Areas, Press

News

Cardinal Marx: “Laudato Si’ is a strong signal at the right time”

Cardinal Marx, President of COMECE, welcomes the new Encyclical of Pope Francis as “a strong and timely signal”. For the first time a Pope “has voluntarily decided to impact world politics” stated Cardinal Marx at this morning’s presentation of the Encyclical in Munich. Not by accident has the Pope published his Encyclical before the decisive summits on Development Goals in New-York in September and on … Continue reading »

Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

Press Release

The message of religion teaches us to use freedom responsibly and to respect diversity

Today’s eleventh High-Level Religious Leaders’ Meeting with the EU institutions was dedicated to the theme: ‘Living together and disagreeing well.’ After the attacks in Paris and Copenhagen earlier in the year, the EU Commission wanted to devote its dialogue with the Religious Leaders to the enormous challenges being currently faced by European society. On the occasion of this annual meeting, the President of COMECE, His … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

COMECE President Reinhard Cardinal Marx on the outcome of the European elections

A large majority of the citizens who participated in the European elections voted for pro-European candidates. In the years to come this will allow the European Parliament to continue its work for the common good of all Europeans with dedicated and competent women and men. A matter of concern is the significant increase of support for parties which reject the project of European integration. A … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

Cardinal Marx welcomes the award of the Charlemagne Prize for 2015 to Martin Schulz: “Tireless work for a united Europe”

On the occasion of the award of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, next Thursday, the President of COMECE, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, issued the following statement: “The award of this year’s Charlemagne Prize to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, is in recognition of his work for the goal of a united Europe and … Continue reading »