The Catholic Church in the European Union
Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union
“Human work is a key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question, if we try to see that question really from the point of view of man’s good. And if the social question (…) must be sought in the direction of “making life more human”, then the key, namely human work, acquires fundamental and decisive importance.” Laborem exercens On the occasion of the … Continue reading
As part of the series of regular encounters between Churches and an incoming EU Presidency, a delegation of Polish and European Church representatives was received by the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski on 28 July 2011 in Warsaw. They had an exchange of views concerning a series of topics related to the political agenda of the Polish Presidency. The Eastern Partnership is one … Continue reading
This was the topic of the Dialogue Seminar which took place this 27 June at the European Commission. About 12 million Roma live throughout Europe today. To foster their inclusion, the EU recently adopted an EU framework for national Roma integration strategies up to 2020. Churches welcomed the adoption of this framework, especially as it looks beyond the current EU and considers support to enlargement … Continue reading
COMECE is a supporter of the European Sunday Alliance, a network of national Sunday Alliances, trade unions, civil society organizations and religious communities committed to raise awareness of the unique value of synchronised free time for our European societies. In the context of the revision of the Working Time Directive, the European Sunday Alliance intends to highlight the “added value” of the synchronisation of free … Continue reading
The Arab Spring was at the heart of this year’s annual summit meeting of European Faith leaders with the Presidents of the EU Institutions. This was the seventh such high-level meeting which took place at the invitation of President José Manuel Barroso and was co-chaired by Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament and Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. Having experienced a … Continue reading
Today, the European Parliament endorsed the setting-up of a common Commission/Parliament ‘Transparency Register’, creating the conditions for its official launch next June. This decision affects thousands of organisations, which liaise with the EU Institutions. COMECE welcomes this common Register as an instrument that will make the legislative and policy-making process more transparent at the EU level. Transparency is valued by the Catholic Church as an … Continue reading
After decades of diplomatic deadlock and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, the COMECE Bishops now see in the Arab Spring a clear sign of hope. The popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other Arab countries represent a legitimate claim for freedom and human dignity for millions of people. This is the main message of the Spring Plenary Assembly of COMECE, which … Continue reading
How can we understand the current developments in the Middle East and Northern Africa from an Indigenous (native) Christian Perspective? What are the effects of the “Arab Revolution” for religious freedom in the Middle East? Within the context of its Spring Plenary Assembly from 6-8 April, the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) is pleased to invite you to an EVENING DEBATE … Continue reading
COMECE Spring Plenary starts today with 23 Member Bishops participating. The main topic of the Assembly is “Christian Churches in Maghreb and Mashriq”. COMECE hosts a public evening debate tonight with Cardinal Naguib at 19:30. More information to the event here. The following experts and institutional representatives will address the bishops’ plenary Assembly tomorrow: – Mrs Véronique ARNAULT, Director of the Human Rights & Democracy … Continue reading
COMECE welcomes the sound judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in the case Lautsi vs Italy. The Grand Chamber of the ECHR stated on 18 March 2011 that the presence of crucifixes in Italian State-school classrooms is not contrary to the right to education. This decision clearly refutes the previous 2009 judgment of the ECHR Chamber. COMECE sees in this decision … Continue reading