Although the results of the latest elections show a growth of euro-scepticism in the UK, and in spite of the strong opposition to the recently approved European Constitution, there are many people in Great Britain who are giving thought to the cultural, religious and moral heritage of Europe. The Wyndham Place Charlemagne Trust a foundation dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges in Europe and the communication between public opinion and ‘policy-makers’ on current issues invited a politician, Andrew Duff, MEP of the Liberal Democrat Party, and a Protestant pastor, John Kennedy, of the ecumenical organization Churches Together in Britain and Ireland to discuss the “moral dimension” of the European Constitution at a seminar on 8 July. The meeting was chaired by Sir Michael Franklin, member of the Trust, who emphasised that “the greatest moral dimension of the EU is enlargement”. Andrew Duff said that “the churches furnished a great forum” of discussion to “highlight the moral dimension” of the Constitution of the European Union. The Rev. John Kennedy criticised that fact that the Constitution of the EU is based on the concept of “economic competition” and lacks any reference to the concept of “humility” that ought to be at the basis of Christian action and “serving the objective of living together”. During the seminar, it was also remarked that the moral commitment of the EU also consists in fostering inter-religious dialogue, in particular with Islam.
