Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union
Commissio Episcopatuum Communitatis Europaeae | |
Abbreviation | COMECE |
---|---|
Predecessor | European Catholic Pastoral Information Service |
Established | 3 March 1980 |
Type | Association without lucrative purpose |
Purpose | Represent episcopal conferences of EU member states at EU institutions |
Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
Region served | European Union |
Membership | Bishops delegated by episcopal conferences of EU member states |
President | Bishop Mariano Crociata |
Main organ | Secretariat |
Website | comece |
[1][2] |
The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union,
COMECE bishops are delegated by Catholic episcopal conferences in EU member states and has a permanent
Objectives
The objectives of COMECE are to:
- monitor EU "political processes" and "legal developments"[7]
- communicate "opinions and views" about "European integration in the light of" Catholic social teaching[7]
- communicate "concerns and opinions" of bishops about "the construction of a peaceful and prosperous Europe for all" to EU institutions[7]
- offer "the co-operation and the service of the Church" to EU institutions[7]
- respond to "questions and problems" of EU institutions[7]
- maintain "transparent and regular dialogue with the EU Institutions"[7]
- "inform and raise awareness among" episcopal conferences in EU member states and Catholics about topics of "common interest dealt with by the different institutions of the EU"[7]
- assist episcopal conferences in EU member states with understanding "the challenges posed by" European integration[7]
- "foster collegiality" between episcopal conferences in EU member states "in developing specific actions" with respect to European "social and ethical problems"[7]
COMECE issues news bulletins and reports in the following "policy areas":[8] Ecology, Energy & Agriculture; Ethics, Research & Health; EU External Affairs; Education & Culture; Justice, Fundamental Rights & Article 17 TFEU; Migration & Asylum; International Religious Freedom; Social & Economic Affairs; and Youth Policies.
Organisation
COMECE's is managed by a standing committee of five, the president, currently Bishop
Its standing committees include: Commission on Social Affairs; Legal Affairs Commission; Commission on EU External Relations; Working Group on Migration and Asylum; Working Group on Ethics; Working Group on Education and Culture.
COMECE is funded by the episcopal conferences in EU member states.[1] Its secretariat is currently made of 10 people.[1]
Leadership
- Presidents[10]
- Franz Hengsbach, Bishop of Essen (1980 – 1984)
- Jean Hengen, Archbishop of Luxembourg (1984 – 1990)
- Charles Amarin Brand, Archbishop of Strasbourg (1990 – 1993)
- Josef Homeyer, Bishop of Hildesheim (1993 – 2006)
- Adrianus Herman van Luyn, Bishop of Rotterdam (2006 – 2012)
- Reinhard Marx, Cardinal Archbishop of Munich and Freising (2012 – 2018)
- Jean-Claude Hollerich, Cardinal Archbishop of Luxembourg (2018 – 2023)[11]
- Mariano Crociata, Bishop of Latina (2023[11] – present)
- General Secretaries[10]
- Msgr. Paul Huot-Pleuroux, France (1980 – 1989)[12]
- Fr. Paul Schaeffer, France (1989 – 1993)
- Msgr. Noël Treanor, Ireland (1993 – 2008)[13]
- Msgr. Piotr Mazurkiewicz, Poland (2008 – 2012)
- Msgr. Patrick Daly, Ireland (2012 – 2016)
- Fr. Olivier Poquillon O.P., France (2016 – 2019)
- Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Spain (2019 – present)
See also
References
- ^ Transparency Register id: 47350036909-69. Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Our history". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ COMECE, the Catholic Church in the European Union, Who we are Archived 1 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 27 June 2021
- ISBN 9780415685047.
- ^ comece.eu. "Structure". The Catholic Church in the European Union Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "Who we are". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Our mission". comece.eu. Brussels, BE: Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ^ comece.eu. "Policy Areas". The Catholic Church in the European Union Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ "Monsignor Mariano Crociata è il nuovo presidente della Comece". Vatican News (in Italian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ a b "History". COMECE. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Monsignor Crociata è il nuovo presidente della Comece". Avvenire (in Italian). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Tribute to former COMECE General Secretary". COMECE. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 28.02.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Europeinfos site Archived 20 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine