catholicism
Pigs can fly or the pope is green
Does Benedict XVI really have green fingers? He’s been branded the ‘green pope’ for his advocacy of global environmental protection for years – but is it merited?
catholicism, green cities, energy, environmental protection, rome, green europe on the ground, environment
Pope Benedict on TV on 22 April: church in crisis?
5pm on Good Friday or 22 April 2011. That's when the pope will make an appearance on Rai 1, the most popular television channel in Italy. The revolution in the catholic church follows suit from pope John Paul II. Television is a powerful means of communication where matters of faith and religion can be discussed; Joseph Ratzinger is taking it one step further by not only participating in the programme, but being open to questions
catholicism, chiesa, josef ratzinger, media, television, papa benedetto xvi, society
Finnish, German, Italian reaction to islamist murder in Pakistan
Shabbaz Bhatti, minister of minorities, was murdered by islamists in Islamabad on 2 March. Pakistan's only christian cabinet minister, the 42-year-old was one of the few to oppose abuses of the country's blasphemy laws. European commentators fear the forces of radical islam could gain in strength, and call on the international community to take action
catholicism, radical islam, pakistan, islamic terrorism, 9/11, assassination, world affairs
Building a mosque in Warsaw: is it all trouble and strife?
Muslims in Poland go back several centuries, beginning with the arrival of tatar settlers in the eastern reaches of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The muslim community in Poland has only recently begun attracting attention, with the building of a mosque financed by a Saudi sponsor in the Warsaw district of Ochota. Not everyone is happy
catholicism, identity, racism, warsaw, immigration, islamophobia, populism
Islam and Europe: a five step waltz
The more widespread an idea, the more erroneous it is. Since the Middle Ages, each period imagines that the question of islam in Europe is a new phenomenon, too often forgetting history, which has not always been about the mode of conquest. A brief overview of a stormier past than one could have imagined
catholicism, history, islamophobia, spain, islam, france, culture
Becoming an atheist? Renounce your religion online
The internet transformed our relationship with organised religion; it could now become its downfall. In 2009, Irish website Countmeout.ie caused an international stir by offering a quick, simple way to leave the catholic church. Panorama on how Europe's muslims, christians and jews exchange faith for freedom of speech
catholicism, jews, germany, best of cafebabel.com, ex-jew, ex-muslim, internet
Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides
More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community
catholicism, northern ireland, protest, dublin, belfast, youth, opinion
Atheist campaigners: arrest pope
Enunciations and remarks by high ranking catholic clergy only serve to validate two prominent atheist campaigners' proposed legal action for 'crimes against humanity' against the pope. Rather an offbeat way to mark 19 April, which is the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's pontificate
catholicism, paedophilia, pope benedict xvi, religion and democracy, atheism, vatican, church
Abortion in Spain: revival of conservatism?
On 7 March - the eve of international women's day - thousands held a 'march for life' on the streets of Madrid. They were protesting against the voting in of the law on abortion without restriction, as adopted on 24 February by the socialist government of José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero. A French reaction on the law that has caused feelings to run high
catholicism, josé luis rodríguez zapatero, sexuality, human rights, abortion, spain, church
Belfast in a black taxi: Europe’s last divided city tries to overcome its past
On 6 February, the Northern Irish paramilitary organisation the INLA decommissioned their weapons, and the province took one more tentative step towards social stability. Now that the former war-zone has re-opened its doors to the world, visitors are flocking to western Europe’s last divided city. A taste of the Northern Irish experience
catholicism, northern ireland, belfast, ira, ireland, politics, society
Dissecting Europe's crucifix conflict
On 3 November the European court of human rights ruled that crucifixes in classrooms violate the religious freedom of schoolchildren. Representatives from politics and the church roundly condemn the judgement, while many media welcome the decision. The Iberian, Maltese and Italian press react
catholicism, freedom of opinion, european court of justice, european court of human rights, eurotopics, school, newspaper
Anti-crisis plans: married with a family in Italy? The church will pay you
On 31 March, it was announced at the Italian episcopal conference that the Italian bankers association (l’Abi) would fund a sum of 30 million euros credit for families in economic difficulties. Have the state and the church slipped back to the middle ages?
Atheist Europe
'There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life!' At least 48 complaints have been registered about the advertising campaign on the 'atheism bus' which has travelled from London to Barcelona. Religions - of which 52% of Europe 'belong' to - have had to shield themselves as a reflex from non-believer activists. Papal policy and secularity, religious diversity, university theology - what do you say?
God is a communist and unaware of it
Now that the largest catholic political party are no longer present in parliament and the centre-left are significantly weakened, it is the Vatican who are playing the role of the greatest opposition to the Italian government. Others however denounce the church as ‘crypto-communist’
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