Introduction

Chaque année à Madrid, depuis 1981, à la fin des vacances d'été, se tient la première ou la deuxième semaine de septembre un congrès de théologie laïque, organisé par l'association Juan XXIII (espagnole) de théologiennes et théologiens, fortement encouragés par les réformes promues par le Concile Vatican II et la Théologie de la Libération. A l'origine, ces congrès étaient présentiels et se tenaient dans l'auditorium du syndicat espagnol Comisiones Obreras en raison du refus des évêques de Madrid d'autoriser la tenue de ces congrès dans des bâtiments appartenant à des ordres religieux catholiques.

Au cours de la première année de la pandémie, le congrès annuel de théologie n'a pas eu lieu, mais depuis lors, tous les congrès se déroulent sur Internet. Les abonnés à ces congrès théologiques paient une cotisation de

CONFERENCE OF INGOs 7-9 April 

Henk has sent his report in English, French, Dutch, German and Spanish.  I can upload each report separately. Alternatively, you can read the report in your own language providing you are using an Android or similar or a laptop with 64 bytes+. I have just read the Spanish translation on my Android and it looks perfect.  You need to click on https://en-re.eu/index.php/latest-news and then scroll down until you find the article you want.

Day 1

It's possible to travel by train from Paris to Strasbourg without having to change trains. You arrive right on time and there is time for a beautiful ecumenical celebration in the centre of the city. Everything is easy to follow. If you know the Gospel that has been read, you can fill in a lot of the details, even though everything is in French. It's strange that you can almost feel what it is about.

Then on the way to the Palais to obtain a photo badge for admission. But European bureaucracy is not easy. It will all come in time.

El 43 Congreso de Teología: Guerra y Paz: ¿Hay salida a la vista?

Introducción:

Todos los años, desde 1981, se celebra en Madrid, al final de las vacaciones de verano, un congreso de teología laica en la primera o segunda semana de septiembre, organizado por la Asociación Juan XXIII de Teólogas y Teólogos, impulsada por las reformas promovidas por el Concilio Vaticano II y la Teología de la Liberación. En un principio, estos congresos eran presenciales y se celebraban en el auditorio del sindicato español Comisiones Obreras, debido a la negativa de los obispos de Madrid a que estos congresos tuvieran lugar en edificios pertenecientes a órdenes religiosas católicas.

Durante el primer año de la pandemia no se celebró el congreso anual de teología, pero desde entonces

Introduction

Every year in Madrid, since 1981, at the end of the Summer break, a secular theology congress is held in the first or second week of september, organised by the Juan XXIII (Spanish) association of male and female theologians, who were greatly encouraged by the reforms promoted by the 2nd Vatican Council and Liberation Theology. Originally, these congresses were presential and were held in the auditorium of the Spanish trades union Comisiones Obreras owing to the refusal by the bishops of Madrid to allow these secular congresses to take place in buildings belonging to catholic religious orders.

In the first year of the pandemic, the annual theology congress did not take place but since then

PLATFORM OF CONGOLESE WOMEN IN SPAIN PMCOE Madrid 8 February 2025

(This statement is supported by EN-RE member group REDES CRISTIANAS)

Kindly click on https://chng.it/Yw5MNVFc4y to read the original Spanish and French texts and vote in favour of the Appeal

An Appeal to the International Community in view of the escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

*It is vital to generate diplomatic and political efforts to seek peaceful solutions and build a peaceful future in the region.

*Indifference and silence will only perpetuate this tragedy.

1. It is with deep concern and sadness that we write to you about the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The conflict in this country has led to one of the most forgotten and silenced genocides in our recent history, and we believe it is your duty as an international community to raise your voices and put an end to this humanitarian tragedy that is taking the lives of millions of people.

2. The genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused

The European Network Church on the Move is a spontaneous convergence of organizations – associations, communities, informal groups and networks – of European Christians who are in majority Catholic, sharing(1) the vision of a Church prophetic, ecumenical, liberating, supporting, loving, which neither excludes nor discriminates and which follows on the steps of Jesus the liberator and (2) the will to work, respecting cultural and religious diversity, for peace, justice, freedom, human rights and democracy, including in the Catholic Church (Cf Declaration of rights and freedoms in the Catholic Church, European Network 1994)........(d) The European Network declares itself an integral part of the Catholic Church enjoying the freedom of association under the law of the Catholic Church (Canon 215) (Constitution Preamble b and d)

Objectives of EN-RE :

Les Cités Interculturelles (CIC), qui sont-elles ?  (Rapport écrit par Fernand JEHL pour le Comité des questions migratoires de la Conférence des OING du Conseil de l'Europe)

Combien sont-elles : On compte 159 Cités interculturelles, au total - 131sont implantées dans un pays membre du Conseil de l’Europe.

Une stratégie interculturelle est un document écrit qui énonce les grands objectifs de la politique d’intégration interculturelle de la ville, c’est-à-dire pour trois à cinq années. Elle décrit les mesures prévues dans le cadre du programme, les dispositions institutionnelles, les fonds et autres ressources qui seront nécessaires et prévoit des mécanismes de suivi et d’évaluation.

La cité interculturelle a une population diversifiée, composée de personnes qui diffèrent par la nationalité, l’origine, la langue ou les croyances. Grace aux politiques interculturelles, la plupart des habitant-e-s considèrent la diversité non comme un problème, mais

Backlash, backlash

Henk Baars, head of delegation European Network Church on the Move

Just about every social, democratic and human rights area in Europe is experiencing a backlash in effort and social security. It could be heard in all the lectures and strategy papers on the many topics that were reviewed at the semi-annual meeting (14-17 October 2024) of NGOs with participation status with the Council of Europe. We too have these through our membership of the Network Church on the Move.

Yours truly was there and was by no means inspired by everything, but two things stood out for me.

Contraccolpo, contraccolpo

Henk Baars, capo della delegazione della rete europea Church on the Move

Quasi tutti i settori sociali, democratici e dei diritti umani in Europa stanno vivendo un contraccolpo nello sforzo e nella sicurezza sociale. Lo si poteva sentire in tutte le conferenze e i documenti strategici sui molti temi che sono stati esaminati alla riunione semestrale (14-17 ottobre 2024) delle ONG con status di partecipazione al Consiglio d'Europa. Anche noi ne abbiamo uno grazie alla nostra appartenenza alla Rete Church on the Move.

Il sottoscritto era presente e non è stato assolutamente ispirato da tutto, ma due cose mi hanno colpito.

Gegenreaktion, Gegenreaktion

Henk Baars, Leiter der Delegation European Network Church on the Move

Nahezu jeder soziale, demokratische und menschenrechtliche Bereich in Europa erfährt einen Backlash in Sachen Anstrengung und sozialer Sicherheit. Das war in allen Vorträgen und Strategiepapieren zu den vielen Themen zu hören, die auf dem halbjährlichen Treffen (14.-17. Oktober 2024) der NGOs mit Beteiligungsstatus beim Europarat besprochen wurden. Auch wir haben diesen durch unsere Mitgliedschaft im Netzwerk Kirche im Aufbruch.

Meine Wenigkeit war dort und war keineswegs von allem begeistert, aber zwei Dinge sind mir aufgefallen.