The distance of one vote” “” “

With 280 votes in favour, 240 against and 28 abstentions, the European Parliament on 3 July adopted the resolution “on sexual and reproductive rights” presented by the Belgian Socialist Anne Van Lancker. In particular article 12 of the document affirms that “with a view to safeguarding women’s health and reproductive rights, abortion must be legal, safe and accessible to everyone”. Although the resolution is only a declaration of principle, its approval has given rise to numerous reactions that testify how far this issue still remains an open moral question. Already in previous days various protests against the “Van Lancker” resolution had been made, such as that of the vice-secretary of the Council of the Slovak Republic (an EU candidate country), who also sent a letter to the EU Commission. In this regard we present below a statement issued by the spokesman of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Marian Gavenda. It is normal that in any society there should be individuals, opinions and movements that react in different and conflicting ways to the issues of life and the dignity of the human person. In the countries of Eastern Europe, and not only in Slovakia, people are beginning, however, to perceive as an alarming signal the fact that ideas and interests that are manifestly against the culture of life are finding ever more space on the agenda of the EU. The letter of vice-secretary Pavol Hrusovsky, sent in recent days to the EU Commission, wished to point out that an abuse of the principles of subsidiarity and sovereignty, also in relation to the EU candidate countries, was clearly to be perceived in the discussion on the “Van Lancker” Report and, therefore, expressed deep concern on the matter. Among other things, the letter wished to stress that, even if “small”, countries like Slovakia feel themselves to be the heirs of a great tradition, confirmed by history: in fidelity to this memory they feel morally obliged to contribute to a European future that attaches paramount importance to the defence and promotion of human life. Today, thinking of this vote, we cannot help being reminded of a thought expressed by Bishop Rudolf Balaz: “What we expect from the EU is not money but apostolate, the witness of our faith”. I recall these words as we in Slovakia are preparing to celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius on 5 July and, a few days later, on 11 July, that of St. Benedict, patrons of Europe. These saints, together with Saints Brigid, Catherine and Edith Stein, have entered the consciousness of European history. They have not become enclosed in their spiritual and ecclesial experience, but have offered all the richness of Christian thought to the culture of Europe. We peoples of Eastern Europe, who suffered under Communism and are now in our post-Communist period, without ever forgetting the witness of Cyril and Methodius, have sought, and are still seeking, signals of genuine rebirth in Moscow, New York, Rome and Brussels, signals that may help us to build a democratic country that is not invited or forced to repudiate its values to remain in the European Union: the signal given by the European Parliament is not in this direction. That’s why the vote in Strasbourg leaves us perplexed and disappointed. It is a measure of the distance between our hopes and reality. But thinking of our male and female saints of Europe, we take comfort in the fact that a wave of sympathy for these men and women is being reborn among the young. The witness they gave still motivates the commitment of young people today to a European integration founded on respect for the life of each and every human person in every period of life, and wherever he/she is living.