Author Archives: admin

May 06

Wounded identities in Central and Eastern Europe

Posted on by

Just recently appeared the very interesting book Freiheit und Populismus. Verwundete Identitäten in Ostmitteleuropa (Freedom and Populism. Wounded identities in Central and Eastern Europe) by András Máté-Tóth. The foundation Communicantes was very happy to further the realisation of this study into the changes of Central and Eastern European society since the fall of communism in 1989. Focusing on the historical wounds of the region and its specific memory culture Máté-Tóth tries to explain the significance of religion and of populism in the post-communist context of Central and Eastern Europe. A major part of the book is dedicated to the role of religion and its future challenges. Professor András Máté-Tóth, 1957, is a theologian, a sociologist of religion and a media expert. He is full professor of Religious Studies at the University of Szeged, Hungary. The introduction, table of content and epilogue can be found on the website of Springer Verlag.

Apr 04

Annual Report 2018

Posted on by
Dear Friend of Communicantes,
Please have a look at the print version of our Annual Report 2018 in English: read in pdf.
A Dutch language summary you will find here: Samenvatting.
For copies of previous annual reports (2013-2016) in Dutch and in English, follow this link.
.
Contents
From the Board Room 1; Voices of Moderation – Church in 21st Century Europe 2; Communicantes in 2018 4; Projects 2018 6; About Communicantes 8
Mar 27

Europe with(out) a Heart or Soul

Posted on by

Communicantes invited speakers from Eastern Europe to discuss the inspirational resources that are available to us to shape the future of Europe. On January 21, 2019, in Utrecht, Cyril Hovorun (Ukraine/USA) and András Máté-Tóth (Hungary) examined the possible contribution of religion. You can now watch both speakers on Youtube.

 

Nov 27

Lecture January 21, 2019: Europe and the Public Role of Religion

Posted on by

Communicantes has invited speakers from Eastern Europe to discuss the inspirational resources that are available to us to shape the future of Europe. On January 21, 2019 two friends of Communicantes – Cyril Hovorun and András Máté-Tóth – will discuss the contribution of religion. We ask ourselves: are we facing the inevitable decline of Europe or are there still renewable resources left that can give Europe a solid cultural and intellectual framework? Can we still expect answers from Christianity after the alleged death of God and the demise of ideology? And does Central and Eastern Europe have a voice of its own that is worth tuning in to? Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun (Orthodox) and Professor András Máté-Tóth (Catholic) come from countries that frequently reach the headlines and probably will continue to do so in the near future: Ukraine and Hungary. While Ukraine wants to join Europe, Hungary seems to be fed up with it. See our flyer in pdf-format (English) and (Dutch). When and where: Monday January 21, 2019, 19.30 – 22.00 u. (open at 19.00 u.), De Kargadoor, Oudegracht 36, 3511 AP Utrecht
Press release / Persbericht

Oct 08

20ste Henri Nouwen Lezing 1 december: Stephan Posner, Zorg het meest menselijke

Posted on by

Zorg wordt steeds meer gezien als een last- en kostenpost maar het tegendeel is waar, aldus gastspreker Stephan Posner. Zorg is het meest essentiële kenmerk van menselijke zingeving, want juist door zorg te geven en te ontvangen wordt iemand wezenlijk mens. Daarom moeten we ons verzetten tegen toenemende economische, financiële en maatschappelijke degradatie van zorg. Stephan Posner is coördinator van L’Arche International, een federatie van 152 gemeenschappen in 37 landen waar mensen met een handicap gelijkwaardig met hun verzorgers samenleven. Posner (1963) was 16 toen hij school verliet en vervolgens als gewetensbezwaarde tegen de militaire dienst als assistent voor L’Arche ging werken. Na een kortstondig oponthoud in het familiebedrijf ging hij terug naar L’Arche.
De 20ste Henri Nouwen Lezing vindt plaats op zaterdag 1 december 2018 om 19.30 uur in de Janskerk, Janskerkhof, Utrecht. De lezing wordt uitgesproken in goed te volgen Engels. Toegang is gratis. Graag aanmelden bij de Henri Nouwen Stichting: nouwen@nouwen.org of Avenue Concordia 117, 3062 LG Rotterdam. Zie ook de website van de Henri Nouwen Stichting.


Oct 08

22nd International Congress Renovabis: Remembrance and Departure

Posted on by

Remembrance and Departure. Paths towards Reconciliation in Europe was the theme of the 22nd International Congress Renovabis on 26th and 27th September 2018. At the Katholische Akademie in Berlin several hundreds of church, NGO and university representatives from Eastern and Western Europe had gathered to reflect on the crises that currently dominate the European area. Remembering the fractious European history of the 20th century, it became clear that over the last few years hidden problems have come to light and barely scarred wounds break open once again. Obviously, there is no way back to history. To overcome old and new conflicts, there is only one way to go, that is, the way of honest dialogue and of genuine reconciliation. See the Renovabis-website.
At the Renovabis Congress, Frans Hoppenbrouwers of Communicantes presented a project “A tool for a future-oriented and future-ready social dialogue in Central and Eastern Europe: Catholic Social Teaching” in one of the workshops. This is a common endeavour of Communicantes with Polish partners “Club of Catholic Intelligentsia” (KIK) and editing house Więź and Pax Christi International.

Sep 18

Lezing 10 oktober: De EU is liberaal noch democratisch

Posted on by

Onlangs betoogde filosoof en historicus Frank Ankersmit, dat onze Europese cultuur en filosofische erfenis versleten is. Europa moet zich daarom op de een of andere manier opnieuw uitvinden. Samen met stichting DeZinnen gaat Communicantes op zoek naar mogelijke bronnen van inspiratie. We beginnen met de Engelse socioloog Frank Furedi die meent dat er veel te weinig oog is voor de inbreng vanuit Midden- en Oost-Europa. Onlangs trok hij publieke aandacht met zijn boek “Populism and the European Culture Wars; The conflict of Values between Hungary and the EU” en een interview in De Volkskrant. Furedi betoogt dat de EU liberaal noch democratisch is, en dat het oude Europa moet inzien dat haar eigen oriëntatie niet heiligmakend is. Furedi spreekt op 10 oktober 2018 in Den Haag bij de Haagse Hogeschool. Voor meer informatie, zie de flyer in pdf-formaat.

May 22

Europe?

Posted on by

Dark clouds are looming over the continent and nobody really knows where we Europeans are heading to. Who wants to understand better what the current mood is, would do well to read the essays of the following three authors. With their good understanding of Central and Eastern Europe, the ‘New Europe’ so to say, they shed sufficiently interesting light on the European predicament.
+ Frank Furedi: Populism and the European Culture Wars: The Conflict of Values between Hungary and the EU (2017)
+ Ivan Krastev: After Europe (2017)
+ Jan Zielonka: Counter-Revolution. Liberal Europe in Retreat (2018).
In their own particular way, all three authors challenge the shallowness of the debate surrounding Europe. Thus Jan Zielonka contends that liberal politicians are as much to blame for the current malaise as the populists they are pointing their finger at.

Apr 05

Annual Report 2017

Posted on by

Dear Friend of Communicantes,
Please have a look at the print version of our Annual Report 2017 in English: read in pdf.
A Dutch language summary you will find here: Samenvatting.
For copies of previous annual reports (2013-2016) in Dutch and in English, follow this link.
Contents
A Word from Our President 1; A Europe of Dialogues and Conversations: Old Ideals for an Old Continent 2; Communicantes in 2017 4; Projects 2017 6; About Communicantes 8

Jul 19

Annual Report 2016

Posted on by

Dear Friend of Communicantes,
Please have a look at the print version of our Annual Report 2016 in English: read in pdf.
A Dutch language summary you will find here: Samenvatting.
For copies of previous annual reports (2005-2015) in Dutch and in English, follow this link.
Contents
A Word from Our President 1; The Refugee Crisis – Discernment of Spirits 2; Communicantes in 2016 4; Projects 2016 6; About Communicantes 8