On the roadside?” “

2004 was a very important watershed for Europe and for the Church of the whole continent. Ten new countries entered the European Union on 1st May. On 22 May the faithful of eight countries of Central Europe participated in a pilgrimage to the Marian Sanctuary of Mariazell, in Austria, to fortify and deepen their faith. I believe that, just like the Church in Slovenia, the other local Churches could find innumerable reasons to express their gratitude and to make some reflections on the future. In the light of past events we can undertake an examination of conscience. Was everything we have achieved and experienced also good? In planning the future have we perhaps forgotten the important spiritual foundation of the European home that is offered to us by Christianity? The responsibility we have before God for ourselves, for our families, for our Church and for our countries oblige us to conduct a reflection on how to tackle the future. We realize that we Christians do not live by our own unaided forces and that the material prosperity of the European countries is not the goal, but a means for a life worthy of man, which ought to permit the global growth of the person, especially in the faith and in other values. The European Union and its Parliament cannot substitute the government of the individual member countries, but have an important decision-making role. In the year that is now drawing to an end we Christians are called to bear witness to our faith in basic values such as respect for life and human rights, the family, defence of the common good and the creation, the search for dialogue and the right of each person freely to confess his/her own faith. But this has also provoked many protests. Being a Christian today may disturb, because it places our conscience on the line and troubles the mind. Material prosperity without the spiritual values that have essentially marked the image of present-day Europe cannot save man. It cannot even satisfy him. We must not therefore build the Europe home without its spiritual foundations, because then we would be building on sand and the ruin will be great. There are politicians who would like to isolate believers in the name of the right not to be ‘disturbed’ by their doctrine. As Christians we are called to proclaim Christ. We are living in a time of major decisions that ought not to ignore our Christian roots. The mystery of Christmas invites us not to hide our Christian faith. There are so many people in Europe who only know Christ in a superficial way, or don’t know him at all. We must not remain standing on the side of the road that leads to our common future. Let us walk forward together, let us reflect together, participate in meetings, and cooperate with all men of good will! Each of us can contribute something valuable to this reality. The New Europe cannot grow without Christians or against Christians, still less without Christ or against Christ. Dechristianized Europe has all the greater need for the hope and joy of life. Only the newborn Saviour can give us hope with his peace. So where shall we seek the reasons for our hope?