https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed September 21st is the date of Sweden's Church Election, a surprising tradition in a largely secular country. https://www.thelocal.com/20210913/what-are-swedens-church-elections-and-how-do-they-work Mon, 13 Sep 2021 18:59:57 +0200 what-are-swedens-church-elections-and-how-do-they-work With the election of the new Pope on May 8th, this is a good time to look into how popular the Catholic Church is in Switzerland, and whether people actually attend mass. https://www.thelocal.com/20250509/just-how-catholic-is-switzerland-in-2025 Fri, 09 May 2025 17:16:20 +0200 just-how-catholic-is-switzerland-in-2025 Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde, who grabbed global headlines after her homily during US President Donald Trump's inauguration, is set to speak at the opening of the Swedish parliament. https://www.thelocal.com/20250509/bishop-who-delivered-sermon-that-enraged-trump-invited-to-opening-of-swedish-parliament Fri, 09 May 2025 09:53:10 +0200 bishop-who-delivered-sermon-that-enraged-trump-invited-to-opening-of-swedish-parliament It was perhaps inevitable, but planned tributes in France following the death of Pope Francis have led to a row about the principle of state secularism. https://www.thelocal.com/20250423/france-engulfed-in-secularism-row-over-tributes-to-pope Wed, 23 Apr 2025 14:54:11 +0200 france-engulfed-in-secularism-row-over-tributes-to-pope Sweden’s first and only Catholic cardinal, Anders Arborelius, is one of the possible candidates to become the next pope after Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. How likely is it that he takes over? https://www.thelocal.com/20250422/could-a-swedish-cardinal-become-the-next-pope Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:19:43 +0200 could-a-swedish-cardinal-become-the-next-pope French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo unveiled a special edition on Monday to mark 10 years since an attack on its offices by Islamist gunmen that decimated its staff. https://www.thelocal.com/20250106/frances-charlie-hebdo-magazine-unveils-special-edition-10-years-since-attack Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:52:37 +0100 frances-charlie-hebdo-magazine-unveils-special-edition-10-years-since-attack A Swedish agency for grants for faith institutions said Thursday it was cutting support to the Russian Orthodox Church, after Sweden's intelligence service warned the church was used for intelligence activities. https://www.thelocal.com/20240301/sweden-cuts-state-funding-for-russian-church-after-intelligence-warnings Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:22:29 +0100 sweden-cuts-state-funding-for-russian-church-after-intelligence-warnings France believes that Russia's security service FSB was behind a campaign in which Star of David graffiti were daubed on buildings in and around Paris last autumn, a French source said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.com/20240223/france-blames-russias-fsb-for-star-of-david-graffiti-campaign Fri, 23 Feb 2024 18:02:13 +0100 france-blames-russias-fsb-for-star-of-david-graffiti-campaign Sexual, psychological and physical violence has taken place in several countries within the ultra-conservative Society of Saint Pius X, Swiss newspaper Le Temps reported Saturday after a months-long investigation into the breakaway Catholic group. https://www.thelocal.com/20240113/swiss-newspaper-uncovers-abuse-in-breakaway-catholic-group-in-france-and-beyond Sat, 13 Jan 2024 18:30:10 +0100 swiss-newspaper-uncovers-abuse-in-breakaway-catholic-group-in-france-and-beyond French president Emmanuel Macron is under fire for an activity that most people outside France would consider perfectly innocuous - watching a Rabbi light a candle on Hanukkah. https://www.thelocal.com/20231208/why-is-macron-under-fire-for-hanukkah-candle-ceremony-in-french-presidential-palace Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:37:33 +0100 why-is-macron-under-fire-for-hanukkah-candle-ceremony-in-french-presidential-palace Tens of thousands of Catholics are expected in the French Mediterranean city of Marseille for Pope Francis's two-day visit, but the once dominant faith is in a long decline in France. https://www.thelocal.com/20230922/analysis-how-catholic-is-france Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:47:59 +0200 analysis-how-catholic-is-france Foreign media often refer to France as having a 'hijab ban' - while this is not the case, there are some restrictions around wearing the Muslim headscarf in France. We look at what this means for visitors. https://www.thelocal.com/20230913/reader-question-can-i-wear-a-hijab-or-headscarf-while-visiting-france Wed, 13 Sep 2023 18:20:25 +0200 reader-question-can-i-wear-a-hijab-or-headscarf-while-visiting-france Once again, the issue of how some Muslim women and girls dress is making headlines in France and around the world - John Lichfield looks at the context of France's abaya ban and accusations of Islamophobia. https://www.thelocal.com/20230906/opinion-frances-abaya-ban-cannot-be-a-veil-to-hide-real-inequality Wed, 06 Sep 2023 12:51:23 +0200 opinion-frances-abaya-ban-cannot-be-a-veil-to-hide-real-inequality French authorities are to ban the wearing in school of abaya dresses worn by some Muslim women, the education minister said on Sunday, arguing the garment violated France's strict secular laws in education. https://www.thelocal.com/20230828/france-to-ban-wearing-of-islamic-abayas-in-schools Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:57:38 +0200 france-to-ban-wearing-of-islamic-abayas-in-schools