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“The future of Europe, political commitment, values and religion”, a document of the European bishops containing proposals for the new Treaty of the Union “The European Convention for the future of Europe offers an unique opportunity for citizens and for the various institutions, both of the member states and of the candidate countries, to be directly involved in the construction of Europe”: so say the bishops of COMECE, the Commission of the episcopates of the European Community, in presenting their contribution to the debate of the Convention for the future of Europe. Their document has the title: “The future of Europe, political commitment, values and religion”. It was published in Brussels on 22 May, on the eve of the third plenary session of the European Convention, scheduled to be held in the Belgian capital until 24 May. Significantly, another document was issued on the very same day: “A project for the European Union”: the contribution that the EU Executive headed by Romano Prodi will present to the Convention. The Commission’s “project” intends to offer a general view of the future of the EU and focuses on four fundamental chapters: foreign policy and common security; the European space of security, freedom and justice; the European socio-economic model; and the new institutional framework for the EU in view of enlargement. “The future constitutional Treaty of the European Union must contain a recall to God and to the Trascendent, the recognition of fundamental rights, including religious freedom, the promotion of the common good and of the principle of subsidiarity”: these are just some of the key points in the “contribution” to the debate on the European Convention drafted by the bishops of COMECE. The European Churches are following the work of the Convention with great attention and, to this end, have set up a work group, coordinated by Bishop Attilio Nicora, to formulate proposals. “The European Union says the COMECE document if it is to serve the common good, both inside and outside its own frontiers, has a need for a policy of solidarity”. To this end the bishops of COMECE “propose that the search for the common good be included among the principal objectives and aims of the EU constitutional Treaty”. “The Community method declare the bishops must be maintained and developed to promote the common good and be shared by all member States”. In this regard the document stresses “the importance of subsidiarity and asks for an explicit reference to be made to it in the future constitutional Treaty”. The principle of subsidiarity, according to COMECE, “is based on the recognition of human dignity and its relations, starting out from the family as the fundamental building block of society”. An important plea in the document concerns the role of religions: they “have the capacity to inspire the renewal of society” and make a “decisive” contribution to the “construction of our identity”. “The Churches and religions declare the bishops represent, safeguard and promote the fundamental spiritual and religious aspects that are at the basis of the construction of Europe”. They the document continues “serve society in the fields of education, culture, the media and work, and play an important role in promoting mutual respect, participation, citizenship, dialogue and reconciliation between the European peoples, between East and West”. Due to this “specific contribution” the Churches and the religious communities “ought to be recognized in a future constitutional Treaty of the EU” which, suggests the document, “ought to make provision for a structured dialogue between the European institutions and the Churches and the religious communities”. In particular, the European bishops point out, “a future Treaty ought to contain declaration no. 11 annexed to the final Act of the Treaty of Amsterdam reaffirming respect for the status of the Churches and the religious communities just in the same way as they are recognized by each member State”. “The Catholic Church conclude the European bishops has accompanied and supported the process of European integration ever since it began. The values and the principles that have guided this process are those recognized by the social teaching of the Church”. In making this contribution, COMECE “expresses the hope that the work of the Convention may produce a balanced sum of proposals capable of guiding a European Union that is not only linked to the heritage of the past but alert to the needs for governing the future”. Daniele Rocchi
