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Northern Europe
Danish initiative lets victim and perpetrator work on reconciliation
In Denmark, the police are investigating how a victim and perpetrator can be reconciled by letting them meet again. “It can be considered to be a modern penance practice.”There have been so-called conflict councils in the Scandinavian country for a while, but until recently, they were not put to use…
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Christian Life
Study: Smartphone threatens marriage
Spouses who use their phone day and night are more likely to feel dissatisfied with their marriage. The more they scroll, the less time they have for each other.“The biggest change I have seen in relationships is the smartphone”, says Canadian couples therapist Andrew Sofin, who has been working in…
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Central Europe
Baptism becomes adjusted to personal wishes in Switzerland
In the past, children were all baptised in a church during a special service. Nowadays, the sacrament can also be administered on an Alp, in a river or in a garden. “It is an opportunity to respond to individual wishes”, pastor Sonja Gerber says. As the number of members in…
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Eastern Europe
Russian Church wants new internet policy for priests
The Russian Orthodox Church wants priests online to more clearly distinguish between their own opinions and those of the Church. Furthermore, they should not forget their main vocation. The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) wants more control over its priests. It should be clear whether such a priest is speaking on…
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Central Europe
German Muslim may not wear burqa while driving
Muslim women are not allowed to cover their faces while driving. That is the ruling of the Administrative Court Neustadt an der Weinstraße. The judges considered the case of a Muslim woman who had filed a complaint against the authority that issued her driver's licence, Tagesschau reports. The woman had…
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Northern Europe
Norwegian church accomodates the renewal of marriage vows
It does not matter whether you have been married for a few months or for fifty years. Whoever wants to promise his or her spouse “until death do us part” again can go to the Church of Norway for a vow renewal. The Church of Norway encourages people to come…
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Eastern Europe
Russian politician uses surrogacy as a weapon against Ukraine
The Speaker of the Russian Parliament claims that Ukraine is trafficking children by permitting surrogacy. Something that Russia partly banned last year. According to Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the State Duma and a former aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Ukrainian government is supporting the trafficking of children. He…
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Northern Europe
Scandinavian politicians divided over burning ban
Denmark is seriously considering a ban on burning holy books, such as the Quran. Other Scandinavian countries still hesitate. In Norway, politicians oppose such a measure to protect national security. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt does not believe it is appropriate to change the law, Klassekampen writes. According to Dagen, Huitfeldt…
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Western Europe
French health authority pleads for mandatory measles vaccintion for caregivers
The High Authority for Health (HAS) in France believes that the measles vaccination should be mandatory for healthcare workers. The Authority published new recommendations last Monday. Usually, the French government listens to these guidelines, La Croix writes. According to the advisory body, the French government should oblige healthcare workers to…
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Central Europe
Majority of Germans thinks a church does not have to fly a rainbow flag
Churches do not need to hang a rainbow flag to show inclusivity. That is the opinion of a clear majority of the German population. More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of the respondents to a survey of Die Tagespost responded no to the question of whether churches should hang LGBT…
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