The plenary assembly of German Catholic Action (ZdK) was held at Bonn-Bad Godesberg from 22 to 23 November. Issues on the agenda were the European constitution, the social policies of the Schröder government and the defence of life. In particular, Hans Joachim Meyer, ZdK president, criticized the lack of a clear position on the defence of life in the coalition pact and in the policy declaration of the new government. “In view of biomedical developments, it is a matter of urgency to promote legislation, in conformity with constitutional prescriptions”, declared Meyer, also recalling that “the protection of the child that grows in the maternal womb and the human protection of the person to the moment of death are not relicts of penal law, but actual obligations sanctioned by the Constitution”. In the ZdK’s view, “Europe is not primarily a market, but a spiritual and cultural dimension, which is nourished by the tradition of the Jewish-Christian faith and by the European history of liberty. Only by drawing on this spiritual fullness can Europe live and enjoy stability”. In a separate statement on the European constitutional treaty, the ZdK hopes for the insertion in its preamble of a reference to the religious and cultural tradition of Europe: what is at issue it stresses “is not confessing the faith, but citing a historic fact, important for the identity of Europe, also as the condition for a dialogue between civilizations and cultures”.
