Category Archives: Archive

Ecumenism

International seminar of representatives of religions and politicians discuss circumcision ban in Iceland

Joint Communiqué CCEE-CEC

On 17 April in Reykjavík, Iceland, a conference on circumcision was held to discuss a proposal which has been tabled in the Icelandic parliament Althing to ban circumcision of male children for non-medical reasons. If the proposal is made into law parents who have circumcision performed on their child can face up to six years in prison. The conference organised by the Inter-Faith Forum and … Continue reading International seminar of representatives of religions and politicians discuss circumcision ban in Iceland »

CCEE - SECAM Seminar

The Meaning of Globalization for the Church and Cultures in Europe and Africa

Final Communiqué of the Participants in the CCEE-SECAM Seminar

Meeting in Fatima from 12 to 15 April 2018, the delegations of the African Bishops (SECAM) and the European Bishops (CCEE) discussed the current and important issue of the meaning of globalization for the Church and Cultures in Europe and in Africa. The bishops have addressed a grateful thought to the Holy Father Francis for his Magisterium and the witness of his universal service. They … Continue reading The Meaning of Globalization for the Church and Cultures in Europe and Africa »

CCEE-SECAM Seminar

The effects of globalisation on the Church and cultures in Europe and Africa

A New Meeting in Fatima

The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferencs of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) are to hold a new Seminar with bishops from the two continents in Fatima (Portugal), from 12-15 April 2018, on the theme The significance of globalisation for the Church and for cultures in Europe and Africa. Following the desire to promote growing pastoral collaboration between the … Continue reading The effects of globalisation on the Church and cultures in Europe and Africa »

Joint Committee CCEE-CEC

CCEE-CEC Joint Committee asks for the respect of the Status Quo in Jerusalem

Letter of Support from Christian Leaders

Following the meeting of the members of the CCEE-CEC Joint Committee in Brussels, from 9-10 March, presidents of the two European ecclesial organisations – Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, CCEE president and Bishop Christopher Hill, CEC president, issued a letter of support to the three leaders of the churches who recently signed a joint statement protesting the proposal of the municipality of Jerusalem to tax the religious … Continue reading CCEE-CEC Joint Committee asks for the respect of the Status Quo in Jerusalem »

Evangelisation and Culture Commission

First Meeting of the New Commission

Riga, Latvia

The first meeting of the CCEE Commission Evangelization and Culture took place in Riga (Latvia) on March 15th. The new Commission was set up by the 2017 CCEE Plenary Assembly, and is divided into four sections: culture, social communications, interreligious dialogue and catechesis. These sections represent three pastoral areas already covered by CCEE, with the area of culture now added as a new section. This … Continue reading First Meeting of the New Commission »

Ecumenism

Christians, Jews, Muslims concerned by Iceland circumcision proposal

CCEE-CEC Joint Statement

It is with great concern that Christian, Jewish and Muslim organisations in Europe take note of a proposal tabled in the Icelandic parliament Althing to ban non-medically indicated circumcision of male children. If the proposal were made into law, parents could face up to six years in prison if they have religious circumcision performed on a boy child. This move would not only amount to … Continue reading Christians, Jews, Muslims concerned by Iceland circumcision proposal »

Presidency

Passing of the Cardinal Karl Lehmann.

Condolences from the European Bishops

Having learnt the sad news of the passing of the Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Bishop Emeritus of Mainz, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa and President of the CCEE, addressed a message of condolence to Cardinal Reinhard Marx, President of the German Bishops’ Conference, and to H.E. Mgr. Dr. Peter Kohlgraf, bishop of Mainz, assuring closeness and prayer to the faithful of Mainz and the Catholic … Continue reading Passing of the Cardinal Karl Lehmann. »

CCEE-CEC Joint Committee

Testimony of Our Faith in a Secularised World

In Brussels on 9-10 March 2018, members of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) exchanged views on the theme “Witness our faith in a secularized world”. The theme directly connects with the upcoming 2018 CEC General Assembly which will take place in Novi Sad, Serbia, with the theme “You shall be my witnesses”. In the opening address … Continue reading Testimony of Our Faith in a Secularised World »

Vocations

God calls everyone. Let us respond to Hope!

Congress of the National Delegates for Youth Ministry

God has a life project for everyone! Yesterday as today, Christ calls men and women to respond to their personal “call from God”. In Tirana, about fifty delegates representing their Catholic Bishops’ Conferences, coming from 17 European countries, gathered at the invitation of H. Ex. Msgr. Ottavio Vitale, Bishop of Lehzë and delegate for the vocational ministry of the Albanian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, to talk … Continue reading God calls everyone. Let us respond to Hope! »

Vocations

In vocational pastoral care we do not start from scratch!

Greetings of Mgr Oscar Cantoni to the participants in the European Congress on Vocations

Opening the Congress, H.E. Mgr Oscar Cantoni, Bishop in charge of the Vocations section of the CCEE Commission Youth, recalled the aims of the meeting in Tirana “everything is aimed at helping the educators of God’s people, and therefore all pastoral workers, in suggesting the most opportune ways so that all the ordinary pastoral care of the Church underlines the vocational dimension and offers useful … Continue reading In vocational pastoral care we do not start from scratch! »