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Central Europe
European court is political instrument against Hungarian child protection, says minister
Hungarian Minister of Justice, Judit Varga, accuses the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of taking “politically motivated” decisions against the so-called Hungarian child protection law. Earlier, the CJEU ruled that funding to states that violate the rule of law can be cut. The CJEU wants to be…
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Southern Europe
Abortion no part of women's health rights, Maltese government says
The Maltese government will not abolish the total ban on abortions. It is still convinced that the “right to sexual and reproductive health services” does not include the right to abortion. Die Tagespost writes that the government explicitly reaffirmed its view on abortion. Malta, therefore, remains the only European country…
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Eastern Europe
Latvian rainbow couples request legal recognition
Several Latvian LGBT couples filed an application to an administrative court to request legal recognition of their relationships as being families. The Baltic Times reports that the Court has accepted 23 of the applications for hearing and is still assessing three others. In addition, four more couples will submit a…
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Northern Europe
Norway is to deny Jehovah's state subsidies
The Norwegian state is considering withdrawing the Jehovah’s Witnesses from state subsidies. The reason is the exclusiveness of the organisation. The JW might even lose their status as a registered religious community. The status of a religious community is essential in Norway. That gives the right to marry people and…
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Northern Europe
In Norway, five MPs can decide about 12 or 18 weeks for abortion
The Norwegian parliament is almost 50-50 divided about a longer abortion term. Currently, that is 12 weeks. There is a strong desire for prolonging this. The Norwegian parliament is almost 50-50 divided about a longer abortion term. Currently, that is 12 weeks. There is a strong desire for prolonging this.…
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Central Europe
German Catholics do not want to sanction homosexual employees
After the “#OutInChurch” campaign, more and more German dioceses declare that they do not want to take disciplinary action against church employees because of their way of life. This was reported by the German Catholic news website Katholisch.de. Four out of five dioceses in North Rhine-Westphalia will in future expressly…
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Eastern Europe
Bulgarian diocese organises petition against cremation
A diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church is taking a stand against the un-Orthodox practice of cremation. Website Orthodox Christianity reports on this. A message on the official website of the Metropolis of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city, states: “The Holy Metropolis of Plovdiv is organising in Plovdiv churches a petition…
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Central Europe
German Culture Minister criticises Bible verses on Berlin City Palace
German Minister of Culture Claudia Roth has criticised the biblical inscription on the dome of the rebuilt Berlin City Palace. Roth said that the Humboldt Forum housed in the City Palace is “not the Vatican”. So writes German Protestant news agency IDEA based on the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.…
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Southern Europe
Italian Constitutional Court stops referendum on euthanasia
Italy will not have a referendum on euthanasia, despite the sufficient number of signatures that were collected during the petition. The Constitutional Court said a referendum would not guarantee “minimum protection of human life,” especially for “weak and vulnerable persons.” Campaigners had collected over 1.2 million signatures for the referendum…
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Eastern Europe
All Ukrainian churches worried about war and peace
All the main churches of Ukraine are speaking about the danger of war. They call for prayers for peace. All over the world, there is talk about a nearing invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC, Moscow Patriarchate) does not expect war. The church has been silent…
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