EUROPE/IRELAND - Presence of Islam in Europe, freedom of press and respect for religions, ecumenical matters, focus of annual meeting for media officers and spokespersons of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe

Maynooth (Agenzia Fides) - The Media Officers and Spokespersons of Europe’s Bishops’ Conferences are set to meet in Maynooth (Ireland) from 20-23 July 2006. The 35 participants will come from 23 countries: Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Czech Republic, England and Wales, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. The meeting is organised by CCEE and is taking place at the invitation of the Irish Bishops’ Conference and the Director of their Communications Office, Martin Long.
The Bishops’ Conferences’ media officers will discuss the following themes :the presence of Islam in Europe: the current trends in Islam and the pastoral challenges facing the Churches in the sphere of communications, too; the Catholic perspective on the freedom of the press and respect for religions; ecumenical matters, and in particular the development of the process of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (Sibiu, Romania, 4-9 September 2007) and reconciliation among the Churches of Northern Ireland; the agenda of the European Union, and in particular the work of the EU Information Society and Media Commission. In addition, part of the meeting will also be dedicated to the exchange of information about current issues within the work of the Bishops' Conferences. The schedule in Maynooth will include opportunities for prayer and the celebration of Mass. On Saturday 22 July, the participants will visit the ancient monastic site of Glendalough and in the evening will be received by the Archbishop of Dublin and ComECE Vice-president, Diarmuid Martin. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/7/2006, righe 17, parole 212)