Europe
Jews and Muslims invited to celebrate Carnival in Germany
By Tom Heneghan — February 13, 2018
(RNS) — The age-old Christian background to the festivities is mostly forgotten, but religion came up in a new way this year as organizers faced an interesting question. Can Jews and Muslims join in the merrymaking?
What would Jesus say? European Catholics grapple with Lord’s Prayer translations
By Tom Heneghan — January 31, 2018
Paris (RNS) — Welcome to the confusing world of Catholic translations, where linguistics, theology, ecumenism and power politics clash despite the church’s claim to universalism.
Pope denounces Holocaust ‘indifference’ amid Polish uproar
By Jerome Socolovsky — January 29, 2018
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Poland, which is largely Roman Catholic, is considering legislation that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust.
Germany worried about ‘imported anti-Semitism’ after immigrant protests
By Tom Heneghan — January 9, 2018
(RNS) — By adding Jews to the immigration debate, last month’s anti-Israel and anti-Jewish protests touched Germany’s most sensitive wound and prompted politicians to ask how to counter a new 'Islamic anti-Semitism.'
Europe’s Muslim population growing — but won’t be a majority anytime soon
By Emily McFarlan Miller — November 29, 2017
(RNS) — Even if there were no more migration to Europe — no immigrants, no refugees — the percentage of Muslims in those countries still would rise during the next three decades, according to a new Pew Research Center study.
Kentucky clerk now fighting gay marriage in Romania
By Jerome Socolovsky — October 13, 2017
A Florida-based conservative Christian organization says that Kim Davis is visiting the Central European country this week to support a nationwide effort to explicitly ban gay marriage.
‘Neo-Protestant’ challenge seen in France’s political upheaval
By Tom Heneghan — September 12, 2017
PARIS (RNS) — A leading French commentator sees a 'neo-Protestant' challenge to France’s traditional 'Catholic/secular' political culture, transforming politics from behind-the-scenes battling among elites to more open and transparent governance.
Pope Francis to Belgian Catholics: Stop offering euthanasia
By Jerome Socolovsky — August 10, 2017
LONDON (AP) — In May, the Brothers of Charity group announced it would allow doctors to perform euthanasia at its 15 psychiatric hospitals in Belgium, one of only two countries — along with the Netherlands — where doctors are legally allowed to kill people with mental health problems, at their request.
Man charged with terrorism-related murder in London van attack
By Reuters — June 23, 2017
LONDON (Reuters) Darren Osborne, 47, is accused of plowing the rented vehicle into the group of worshippers in Finsbury Park in the early hours of Monday morning.
Van rams worshippers leaving London mosque; Prime minister calls it a ‘sickening’ terrorist attack
By Reuters — June 18, 2017
LONDON (Reuters) - Shortly after midnight, the rented vehicle swerved into a group of people leaving prayers at the Muslim Welfare House and the nearby Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, one of the biggest in the country, witnesses said.
British Liberal Democrat quits, says can’t lead party and be a Christian
By Kate Holton — June 14, 2017
(REUTERS) 'I seem to be the subject of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith is in,' Tim Farron said. 'In which case we are kidding ourselves if we think we yet live in a tolerant, liberal society.'
VW’s ‘dieselgate’ poses ethical challenge for German Protestants
By Tom Heneghan — May 23, 2017
(RNS) 'Kein Ablass für Abgas!' (No indulgences for exhaust fumes), a pastor wrote about the German carmaker providing the official vehicle fleet for a biannual church assembly.
Turkish-financed mosques in Europe allegedly spying for Erdogan
By Tom Heneghan — April 19, 2017
PARIS (RNS) European lawmakers are calling for tighter restrictions on the mosques, which critics say keep diaspora Turks from fully integrating.
Religion emerges in secular French politics as presidential campaign heats up
By Tom Heneghan — March 24, 2017
PARIS (RNS) Playing the religion card openly is rare in France, where secularism is normally taken so seriously that politicians rarely if ever mention their faith in public. But this election is not taking place in normal times.
Prague’s synagogue gets first new Torahs since World War II
By Reuters — March 20, 2017
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (Reuters) - The Old-New Synagogue is over 700 years old, one of the oldest existing synagogues in Europe.
