Justice & Fundamental Rights, Policy Areas, Press

News

Shift of ECHR finally acknowledges the diversity of approaches in Europe regarding religious symbols in the public square

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 »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians finally given the attention it deserves. Concrete political action is now needed

COMECE greatly values today’s EU Council’s Conclusions on “intolerance, discrimination and violence on the basis of religion or belief” as a good step in the right direction. The fusion of ‘common sense’ and ‘political will’ has prevailed to secure the strong statement urgently needed to stop the widespread acts of terrorism and sectarianism against Christians worldwide. In paragraph 2 the Council condemns the acts of … Continue reading »

International Religious Freedom, Policy Areas, Press

News

Persecution of Christians: a most regrettable wavering on a strong diplomatic EU commitment

COMECE very much regrets that the 27 Foreign Ministers of the EU failed yesterday to agree on a joint declaration condemning religious persecution. This diplomatic wavering is all the more incomprehensible as innocent lives are being cut short in atrocious attacks against Christians and other minorities all over the world. The agreement failed due to internal wrangling among the Ministers over a specific reference to … Continue reading »

Press

Press Release

“Bringing Europe Closer to its People” Churches meet with the Hungarian EU Presidency

As part of the series of regular encounters between churches and the incoming EU Presidencies, a delegation of Hungarian and European church representatives was received by the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán on Monday, 17 January 2011 in Budapest. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén and the Secretaries of State Mihály Varga, Peter Szíjjárto, Zoltán Balog and László Szászfalvi as … Continue reading »

Press

News

Europe infos, a Christian perspective on the European Union

COMECE and the Jesuit European Office are pleased to introduce a new version of Europe infos, in a new online format in colour. Europe Infos is a monthly journal produced over the last fourteen years by the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) and the Jesuit European Office (also known as OCIPE). This joint publication was preceded by two separate journals: L’Europe … Continue reading »