A resource for Europe

“Freedom to educate – Religious freedom in Europe today”; this is the theme of the round table due to be held next May 4 in Strasbourg’s headquarters of the Council of Europe. The meeting is promoted by CCEE – the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences – in conjunction with the Italian Bishops’ Conference and the permanent mission of the Holy See at the Council of Europe. Msgr. Aldo Giordano, Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the Council of Europe and Msgr.Mariano Crociata, CEI Secretary General, will open the event. The meeting in Strasbourg – states a communiqué issued by CCEE – follows the publication of a European research on the teaching of religion in Europe entitled “The teaching of religion: a resource for Europe”. In presenting the findings of the research, the round table will “highlight the fruits that the teaching of religion has borne to civil society”, states CCEE.A response to the crisis in values. The meeting in Strasbourg – promoted for the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe and on the eve of European Parliament elections – will be attended by numerous political personalities (Ján Figel, Commissioner for Education, Training and Youth) and Church dignitaries (notably Cardinal Péter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest and CCEE President). Father Vincenzo Annicchiarico, coordinator of the Service for the Teaching of Religion of the Italian Bishops’ Conference will present the research. “The ongoing crisis doesn’t merely pertain to the economic realm – said father Duarte da Cunha, CCEE Secretary General -. It’s an ethical crisis that is rooted in the anthropological crisis of our societies. Thus the recovery of the anthropological roots entails the implementation of an educational project that includes the teaching of religion, which should not be confined to mere catechesis. Rather, personalistic ethics based on solidarity – which our societies are in dire need of – ought to be conveyed”.The research project: steps and objectives. The research, launched in Rome, was carried out from January 2005 to November 2007. CCEE promoted the initiative, which enabled the full collaboration of all Catholic Churches in Europe. “The survey – claimed Alberto Campoleoni, who coordinated the research Committee for CCEE – was aimed at collecting data, at taking a ‘snapshot’ of the different situations of European countries, but mostly, it was aimed at stirring Christian communities and national Churches in order to undertake a common journey on the themes pertaining to the teaching of religion, by collecting their views on this subject based on their experiences”. The research led to the establishment of a network of people that bring together the experience of the different Churches in Europe. Teaching in all the countries. The most evident finding of the research confirms that RT is present throughout most European countries. This presence is accomplished “with modalities that can be identified in two main proposals: religious education based on religious science models managed directly by the State, and the teaching of religion marked by confessional content wherein Churches – and, where present, also other religious denominations – play an active role”. “The teaching of religion on a confessional basis prevails at European level since the State claims it is “not accountable” in the field of religion while it acknowledges its historical and cultural heritage”. Scandinavian countries, Belarus and Bulgaria. The model that draws inspiration from the “science of religions” is typical of Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), where State religion (the Lutheran) is likely to integrate also Biblical and theological cultural contributions within an education scheme marked by secularization. Although RT is not envisaged in Belarus and Bulgaria these countries display a special attention for “the religious question”. In Belarus it’s possible to activate a-confessional optional classes, called “History of religions”, or “World religions”. While separate classes for catechesis take place at the end of regular school hours in some schools.