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PanoramaThe Child of Prague
Prague's Church of Our Lady Victorious on Karmelitska - or Carmelite -
Street is home to one of the most revered images in the Roman Catholic
world, the Bambino di Praga, or Child of Prague. We'll come to the famous
statue in a moment, but first let's find out a little about the Church of
Our Lady Victorious, and its troubled history.
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Current AffairsCzech cardinal sympathises with angry Muslims
The publication of caricatures of the prophet Mohammed in a Danish
newspaper has brought violent reactions in some parts of the Muslim world,
and heated debate in Europe about the balance between freedom of expression
and respect for different beliefs. Indirectly, the Czech Republic has also
found itself in the firing line.
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Current AffairsAs Jehovah's Witnesses gather in Prague, members deny being cult
Prague's Strahov Stadium recently hosted a mass open-air meeting of the
Czech Jehovah's Witnesses, where dozens of converts were introduced into
the controversial religious order. The Czech Republic is among the most
agnostic societies in the world, and the organisation remains small. Rob
Cameron has the following report.
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Current AffairsAtheists and church leaders debate the future of religion in the Czech Rep
The Czech Republic has the reputation of being one of the most secular
countries in Europe. In 2001 a nation-wide census revealed that 58 percent
of the population were non-believers. But that's not to say the public is
apathetic to religious issues: given the chance, even the country's many
atheists relish discussing the future of organised religion. Many did so
heatedly at a recent debate in Prague.
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Talking PointJohn Paul II - Pope who helped to overthrow communism
Pope John Paul II is a respected figure worldwide. Even though he is often
criticised for his conservative stances in questions like abortion,
contraception or gay marriages, he still enjoys a great popularity that
can be hardly compared to his predecessors. One factor contributing to his
general popularity has been his energetic image as well as the enormous
number of trips he has made around the globe. John Paul II is also popular
in the generally non-religious Czech Republic, even though the reasons for
his popularity here may be slightly different. More
Current AffairsReligious leaders seek common ground through inter-faith dialogue in Prague
Christmas is a religious holiday - marking the celebration of the birth of
Jesus Christ. At the same time, Christmas is widely celebrated in largely
agnostic countries like the Czech Republic, as a season for seeking peace,
goodwill and understanding. As such, Christmas is a time when religious
figures — from many faiths, not just Christian — reach out to each other.
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Current AffairsAre Czechs afraid of Islam?
Since the Iron Curtain fell, Czech society has been increasingly exposed to
the influence of other cultures. There are not only western tourists in
Prague. Quite a few students and entrepreneurs, but also refugees, have
come from Muslim countries, bringing elements of their culture and way of
life with them. So what is the position of Muslims in the Czech Republic,
and what attitudes and pre-conceptions do Czechs have about Islam? Martin
Mikule has been finding out.
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Current AffairsTracing Czech-Irish connections on St. Patrick's Day
As St. Patrick's Day is now upon us, Irish people all over the world will
be raising a glass in honour of their patron saint. Because of historical
circumstances, the Irish are well known for having a huge diaspora living
in various countries throughout the world. The Czech Republic has also had
many Irish émigrés living on its territory down through the years. We take
a brief look at these Czech-Irish connections.
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Current AffairsLubos Kropacek on the small but important Muslim community in the Czech Republic
The popular French Institute in Prague has been running a special series of
lectures open to the public titled "Understanding Today's
World". Topics that have been covered weekly have included New
Threats after 9-11, The City in Crisis, and Islam in Western European
cities. Radio Prague was able to attend some of these events last month,
including a lecture on the changing face of Islam in Europe.
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MagazineSpreading God's word in a land of atheists
Brother Laurence Cada is an American of Czech descent, whom the Marianist
religious order sent to the Czech Republic in the role of missionary. In
many ways it was a voyage of discovery to the land of his ancestors and
five years after his arrival in the Czech capital Brother Cada appears to
have settled down happily enough. He has a busy work schedule, many Czech
friends and has established close links with dignitaries of the Catholic
Church. But - from a professional angle Laurence Cada could not have been
given a harder task. He was sent to spread God's word in one of the most
agnostic and secular societies in Europe, if not the world. I recently
spoke with him about his experiences, his impressions and his work.
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