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Central Europe
Catholic Church Germany implements diversity in labour law
Germany's Catholic Church has established a new labour law. It should promote diversity among church employees and no longer discriminate based on personal lifestyle. Yet, some argue that the new church order does not go far enough. The Roman Catholic Church used to have, up till now, the right to…
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European Union
Christians most targeted religious group in France
Of all religious people in France, Christians are most targeted by hate crimes. Also, France has the highest number of hate crimes against Christians in Europe. That is shown by a recent report from the organisation Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe. After France, Germany, Italy, and…
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Belarus introduces death penalty for treason
Anyone found guilty of treason risks being executed. That is the aim of a Belarussian bill that survived the first House of Representatives reading on Wednesday. If the proposal comes into force, any official or soldier can be executed if the judge finds him or her guilty of treason. The…
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Russian Orthodox Church wants to criminalise “destructive ideology”
The Russian Orthodox Church thinks that “destructive ideology” should be included in the Russian Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses. That is what the Patriarchal Commission on Family Affairs, Protection of Motherhood and Childhood called for, Ria Novosti writes. The Church proposes to make the dissemination of “destructive…
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Southern Europe
Portugal inches towards decriminalisation euthanasia
On Wednesday, a government committee in Portugal approved a new draft to decriminalise euthanasia and assisted suicide. The proposal will now be submitted for a plenary vote on Friday. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees voted in favour of the new draft. The text is based on…
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Dutch Senate opens way for abortion pill via family doctor
Women who want to terminate their pregnancy will be able to acquire an abortion pill from their family doctor soon. They no longer have to go to a special abortion clinic to get it. After the Dutch Lower House approved a bill to that end, now also the Senate passed…
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Eastern Europe
Draft measures against Russian Orthodox Church submitted to Ukrainian Parliament
A draft with measures that target the Moscow-oriented Ukrainian Orthodox Church has been submitted to the Ukrainian Parliament on Tuesday. The document aims to make it easier for parishes of the UOC to transfer from the Moscow Patriarchate to, for example, the Constantinople Patriarchate. Currently, two-thirds of the total number…
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Central Europe
Polish journalists reject accusation of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II did not hide the sexual misconduct of his priests. That is the conclusion of two Polish journalists who reject the accusation of the late Pope by a Dutch news reporter. Polish journalists Tomasz Krzyzak and Piotr Litka write so in an article on the Polish news…
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Western Europe
New tribunal will deal with misconducts in French Roman Catholic Church
Thirteen people form a new tribunal that will deal with misconduct in the Roman Catholic Church of France. The National Canon Criminal Court (TPCN) was sworn in on Monday. The new tribunal will deal with cases in the Church connected to sexual abuse of adults, power abuse, breach of trust…
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Northern Europe
Christian schools Norway talk to politicians about grant cut
Norwegian Bible schools will have to prepare for significant grant cuts. They invited politicians to talk about their situation. Last week, representatives of nine Christian schools in Norway invited representatives from the Storting. They wanted to talk about the grant cut that is most likely passed before the end of…
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