Communicating hope

After 15 years’ commitment as Secretary General of Comece (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) Msgr. Noël Treanor is resigning his post. In fact, on June 29 he will be ordained bishop of the diocese of Down and Connor, in Ireland. On the eve of his departure from Brussels, SIR Europe asked him to draw a “balance” of his experience in the organism representing EU Bishops Conferences at Community institutions. What is the significance of the European project for the Church? “It is aimed at the promotion of peace among peoples, justice, sharing, solidarity, for the dignity of mankind. The Church considers it crucial for the future of the continent’s social fabric. However, in contemporary reality, marked by an enlarged Union that is aware of its interdependence with other peoples in the world, every citizen must do his share to ensure that this project’s implementation follows the original tracks it has been conceived for: a political project rooted within ethical and spiritual values, requiring joint development”. Why and how did the Church decide to “accompany” the European construction project? “Since the beginning many Christians working in the newborn European institutions acknowledged the anthropological, ethical and spiritual significance of this new project which draws inspiration from the Declaration of Robert Schuman. In the 1950s the archbishop of Strasbourg invited Jesuits to follow the activity of the Council of Europe. Thus, the Ocipe was founded which eventually set up a seat also in Brussels. In 1976 the European Pastoral Information Service was created (SIPECA), whose task is to update Bishops’ Conferences on the institutions’ initiatives and works. In 1980 this assignment was taken up by Comece, whose creation stemmed from the need of supporting Europe’s construction also with surveys and reflections while preserving the dialogue with Community institutions”. What has been the Churches’ contribution to the European unification process? “Bishops Conferences and Catholic organizations initially acted as conveyors of information and knowledge on the European dimension. At a later stage, from their offices in Brussels they began to follow EU policies by constantly promoting the universal values proclaimed in the Gospel. The difference between Churches and Ngos is that according to their own vocation, Churches are called to ensure not only the enhancement of values within EU policies, but also the presence of a true ethical debate marking decisions taken in these environments. In this sense, Churches offer a spiritual, ethical and social vigilance service”. What will be its practical contribution on the basis of the new article 17 envisaged in the Lisbon Treaty? “After the treaty’s ratification it will be necessary to define how the planned dialogue can be implemented. Churches expressed their hope that present Presidential meetings and dialogue seminars may continue. Other provisions might be taken up on the initiative of EU institutions. For this purpose, it’s necessary to identify a group of experts in different disciplines within Member States who will take part in the consultations regarding issues pertaining to justice and domestic affairs, human rights, development and foreign politics”. Does Europe know where it’s going? “I’d be tempted to say no, especially when considering the crucial challenges of globalization, delocalization, climate changes, migration flows, terrorism…There ensues the importance that citizens, believers in particular, understand the value represented by Europe, and ensure that the Europe we are constructing day by day and that we will continue constructing also in the course of the next legislature (2009-2014) lives up to the expectations of the Founding Fathers. Negative criticism isn’t enough. We must communicate hope, offering proposals aimed at promoting the dignity of each European citizen and the common good of the human family in our policies”. What are the points of friction between the Church and the EU? “The Church has been called to proclaim the Gospel in all social environments. As such, and as a partner in the dialogue with political bodies, which it fully respects, she is also called to promote man’s integral wellbeing. True dialogue often entails disagreeing over specific issues. At present, these are related to research policies, the justification of new rights, migration and asylum policies. However, this is a so-called ‘evangelical’ friction. It’s a sign that the Church is helping society and politics, to face responsibilities for the good of mankind, however complex these may be. These frictions therefore constitute a service to society and to the credibility of the Union’s political propositions”.