late news" "
Unsatisfactory: that’s the immediate reaction of various European Christian churches and organizations (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) on learning that the initial draft of the European Constitution is devoid of any reference to the “Christian roots”. In article 2 there is no mention of religious and spiritual values, even if some weak gleams of hope are left open for other parts of the Constitution. It was widely expected that the draft of the first 16 articles of the EU Charter, presented by Valery Giscard d’Estaing to the plenary session of the Convention on the future of Europe (Brussels, 6 February), would contain an acknowledgement of Christianity, not in the sense of a confessional endorsement, but out of love and respect for the truth, and for the history of our continent. “Disappointed not about what is written in the draft, but about what is not written in it”: the comment of the Council of the European Episcopal Conferences can be wholly shared, especially because this “censorship” poses serious questions about the safeguard and promotion of religious liberty in our continent. So the silence must also be a cause of concern to non-Christians and to those who describe themselves as “lay”. We have said so many times and will continue to say so: what’s at issue here is not ignoring the concept of what it means to be lay, in the way it has been understood in the European political and cultural debate, but of underlining that without the dimension of the faith, and by cloaking in silence the Christian faith, this concept too risks, especially in Europe, being deprived of meaning and failing in its task of inspiring cultural and political decisions aimed at the good of man and society: a good that is both visible and invisible. The debate which we will follow with the usual attention – continues: a good sign, so long as the dialogue between Christians, non-Christians and non-believers emerges from entrenched positions which have nothing to do with the intelligence. (p.b.) ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1179 N.ro relativo : 9 Data pubblicazione : 07/02/03
