The task of Christians” “

The Presidium of the Convention on the future of Europe has drafted a new version of the Preamble of the future European Constitution in recent days. In contrast to the first draft, the new text cancels both any explicit reference to the Greco-Roman tradition and to the philosophy of the Enlightenment. What’s innovative in the new text consists in the second paragraph of the Preamble which now reads: “Deriving inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanistic legacies of Europe which have always been present in its patrimony and have rooted in the life of society its perception of the central role of the human person, of his inviolable and inalienable rights and of respect for the rule of law”. The Convention is now discussing the Preamble and the chapter on the EU Institutions: the approval of the final document is expected to take place this Friday. It will then be delivered to the European Council on 20 June. Meanwhile, an appeal to “have a Christian outlook” in the construction of Europe has been made by the Commission of the episcopates of the European Union (COMECE), which issued a document drafted by a group of European theologians chaired by COMECE vice-president, Archbishop Hippolyte Simon of Clermont, on 11 June. The document, with the title “Let us open our hearts – the responsibility of Catholics and the project of the European Union”, is now being distributed to the local Churches of the member countries of the EU and those of enlargement. Described as a “target text”, the document is intended to “invite all persons and all groups who wish to do so to enter into dialogue” on the theme of European construction. That’s why reflections and criticisms are awaited by 15 November 2003, before proceeding to the final draft. The document is divided into three parts: the teachings of the Christian tradition important for the construction of Europe; a Christian re-reading of the declaration of Robert Schuman; and the responsibilities of Catholics in Europe. 2004, appointment with Europe. The document starts out from the acknowledgement that in 2004, with the membership of ten new countries, Europe will find itself at “an appointment with itself”. Re-tracing the history of these last fifty years, it points out that “European construction arouses not only hopes and joyful anticipation”, but also “anxieties and uncertainties”. Some citizens, for example, “consider the process of European integration with mixed feelings, if not with downright rejection, because they fear that national culture and identity will end up disappearing”. The role of Christians. But “Europe cannot be understood – emphasises the document – without taking into account the founding role that Christians have had. Even if, today, a form of diffused agnosticism seems to dominate the public debate, the convictions of Christians are always recognized as capable of playing a role, together with those of Jews and Moslems or the members of other religious communities”. The task of Christians, therefore, is that of “defining the ways of a Europe characterized by stability, peace and public prosperity”. Strong points and limitations of the process of integration. The document analyses the strong points of the historical process of European integration (the principles of peace, freedom and solidarity) but also its limitations: “European impotence was manifested in a still more evident way during the conflict in the Balkans” as also during the repression of the uprisings of the Hungarians, Czechoslovaks and Poles [during the Communist period]. The principle of solidarity, says the document, also “demonstrates its own limitations” when “one country can effectively and by itself alone prevent all the others from acting”. A contradiction that also extends to the market economy that “often increases inequalities between the social strata”. Hence the invitation to put in place regulations to “maintain social cohesion and protect the less well-to-do families and individuals, future generations and the rest of the world”. Accepting diversity. European Christians are also entrusted with the task of “accepting diversity”, and Catholics with that of rediscovering the “richness of the Catholic tradition” by exploring “the various traditions of spirituality”, and by incorporating them in programmes of catechesis in all countries. The “prophetic gestures”, to which Catholics are called, include first and foremost ecumenism and dialogue with Jews and Moslems, but also an “education that takes due account of the European dimension”.