The author pleads for an equal and differentiated treatment of marriage and same-sex-unions in civillaw. In theological perspective it is necessary to regard same-sex-unions as well as marriages under the aspects oflife-long commitment and responsibility- both may be and should be »Iove in earnest« F or the decisive moment in every kind oflife-long partnership in the destination that »your body isatemple ofthe Holy Spirit«. - From this central point of view biblical damnations of homosexual behaviour must be criticised. - As (...) further consequences the articel discusses the legal introduction of the possibility of »registered partnership« for gay people and following options in liturgy and law of the church. (shrink)

The Bologna process forces a reframing of the theological education. In the autor's mind, it affords chances for an improved quality during the first two cycles. The change from an input-oriented to an output-oriented leaming provides a better professional competences. In addition, the Bologna process provokes to profile theology in an interdisciplinary context. The article outlines the profile of Theological Ethics as a self-contained discipline, connectedwith both, the other theolgical disciplines and the adjacent sciences, such as medicine, law, and sociology. (...) According to this, the authors discuss the advantages and the risks ofthe two-cylcle, BA/ma education and draw the conclusions for the further curriculas in theological ethics. A coml)lon competence-based core-curriculum is presented in order to get joint standards and to improve student's mobility. (shrink)

The question is: How is a global peace order possible in the shape of an international legal system? The article focuses on the problems of international law within the present system of the UN and tries to actualise the Kantian concept of perpetual peace (1795), with regard to positions of international lawyers. A peaceful international order must have the means to protect against unlawful violence, even by armed forces, e.g. to intervene against gross violations of fundamental human rights. It is (...) necessary that even the great powers are obliged to act only within this legal framework. Unilateralism must be abolished in a continuing process. ‘Good leadership under law, not above the law’ (J. Delbrück). (shrink)