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Central Europe
Germany will get a new commissioner for religious freedom
The new German coalition wants to continue the office of commissioner for religious freedom. After the general election it was questionable whether it would be re-occupied. However, as the Federal Development Ministry announced on Wednesday in Berlin, Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) will “shortly make a proposal for the appointment” of…
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European Union
European Parliament criticises ban on “Christmas”
Members of the European Parliament almost unanimously criticised EU Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli, while debating her controversial language guidelines that have since been pulled. The centre-right European People's Party requested the debate. The party leader Manfred Weber praised Europe's Christian roots. “Freedom of religion, or not to believe, is a…
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Eastern Europe
Church in Belarus asks for marriage and family in constitution
The Orthodox Church of Belarus wants it to be defined in the constitution that marriage is a union between men and women. The Church also wants constitutional protection for (unborn) life and traditional family values. Orthodox Christianity reports so based on a report by news agency Sputnik Belarus. “We propose…
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Western Europe
Dutch review of family name rules: even 10 surnames possible
Not just one parent, but both parents in the Netherlands should be allowed to give their children their parents' surname. The number of surnames can even grow to ten. Last Tuesday, the Dutch government sent a bill to the Parliament to regulate this. If the bill is passed, the child…
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Central Europe
Call to ban Martin Luther from Berlin's street names
Research shows that almost 300 squares and streets in the German capital Berlin bear the names of people who can be associated with hatred of Jews. Among them is the German church reformer Martin Luther. A new chapter in the discussion about renaming streets has begun. A scientific study finds…
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Northern Europe
Nordland to survey conversion therapy in Norway
In Norway, Nordland Research Institute has been commissioned to survey the phenomenon of conversion therapy. This is what the Norwegian newspaper Vårt Land writes. Nordlandsforskning is now preparing the study, writes Eirunn Lysø, department director of Bufdir in an email to Vårt Land. Bufdir, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth…
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Northern Europe
Conservative Christians excluded from support in Norwegian town Klepp
Organisations with a Christian view on relationships and sexuality will no longer receive money from the Norwegian municipality Klepp, [Vartland](https://www.vl.no/religion/2021/12/13/akkurat-na-konservative-kristne-far-ikke-soke-om-kulturstotte-i-klepp/) reports. Institutions are no longer allowed to refuse people certain positions of trust on the grounds of cohabitation, sexual orientation, gender or ethnicity if they want to qualify for the…
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European Union
EU country must accept parental rights of gay couples, court says
Every EU member state must accept the parental rights of gay couples that have received a child in another country. Even if that member state reserves marriage for man and woman. The European Court of Justice (Luxembourg) has ruled that, according to the Dutch Reformatorisch Dagblad. The court had to…
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Central Europe
“German transgender law harmful for children”
In Germany, the new Traffic Light government wants to allow children from the age of 14 to change their gender without the consent of parents or guardians. This has the name of “self-determination” of “gender identity”. But Uwe Steinhoff calls it “deeply ideological and authoritarian.” In a guest comment in…
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Western Europe
France's minister condemns threats against Catholic procession
France's interior minister on Saturday condemned threats made against Catholics taking part in a Marian procession in the western suburbs of Paris. Gérald Darmanin lamented what he said were “unacceptable acts” during a torchlight procession in Nanterre on December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic News Agency reports.…
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