Relaunching Europe

“In EU27 we live a situation of democracy, we experience freedom of conscience and of worship”. In this context “French laicité is a possible mode” to express religious freedom, but “it’s not the only one”. It is the belief of the archbishop of Clermont, vice-president of the French Bishops’ Conference Msgr. Hippolyte Simon. On his part, the director of Espaces Bruxelles Dominican father Ignace Berten, maintains that “recreating a spirit of solidarity and cooperation among all European countries” is a necessary condition for “the relaunching of Europe”. Follows a snapshot of the two reflections published a few days ago by the French Catholic weekly “L’Aurore du bourbonnais”.Religions and public realms. “It appears legitimate – states Msgr. Simon in an interview with the weekly ensuing the conference with religious leaders held in France at the end of March – that religious leaders be consulted by state leaders prior to the latter’s adoption of practical decisions”. However, he said, “I think it is preferable that these religious communities, the Catholic Church in our case, be represented by sociologists, historians, and most importantly by jurists, whenever a political party calls a meeting to reflect on future political programs”. Inasmuch as they are institutions, continues the archbishop, “the Church and the State are separate bodies. However, the Churches are not cut off from the nation, and therefore they are free to give their contribution to the cultural and spiritual vitality of our Country through the commitment of citizens who identify themselves as believers”. In other words, for Msgr. Simon “Church-State separation is not mutually ignoring each other, nor does it mean dividing citizens into groups of communities incognizant of one another. In fact, “it is possible to be at the same time the citizens of a State and the members of a community of faithful” as “there is no separation between civic responsibility, pertaining to the public realm, and religious identity, which belongs to the private sphere”. “As often happens, this claim is a mistake”, points out the prelate, “since it means overlooking the fact that the public realm doesn’t entirely fall within the provinces of the State. Before considering the claims of the State priority must be given to civil society” with “its rich diversity of religious communities, philosophical and political beliefs, along with its cultural, humanitarian and associative commitments”. From this perspective “French laicité is a feasible expression” of “religious freedom in Europe”, but “it’s not the only one”. Indeed, religious freedom, underlines Msgr. Simon referring to the EU, “can be enforced in different ways”, that all equally geared towards the same goal”, namely “to ensure freedom to individuals and communities alike notwithstanding the respect of public order”. Laicité, he concludes, “is thus a dimension of democracy”.Solidarity, investing in research and new social models. For father Berten, social claims in the EU are currently marked “by institutional fragility” as compared to the role of the economy. Globalization has exposed Europe to the winds of competition, while new communication and information technologies have radically changed the conditions of production along with the industrial social fabric”. Instead of facing globalization “in solidarity, through cooperation – the religious remarked – European States, under the influence of Great Britain, have opted for non-cooperation and competition”. “The new competitive strategy, the Euro Plus Pact” should be viewed “within this framework”. According to Fr Berten, instead of drawing inspiration from the financial-economic crisis as the premise for a joint reconsideration of our development model, there is an attempt to “revitalize growth on the basis of a production-consumption axis and by reducing production costs, i.e., wages”. “Is there another option?” he wonders. Indeed there is, but “on specific conditions”. First of all it is necessary “to restore a spirit of solidarity and cooperation amongst European States: no country can face the fierce competition of globalization run by financial capitalism on its own”. Only united Europe, cautions the Dominican father “can exert the need influence to renegotiate employment regulations, social rights, and supervisory financial market rules at global level”. The second condition, claims the director of d’Espaces Bruxelles, “is to carry out massive investments in new technologies research whilst promoting social cohesion, living standards and relationships viewed as an alternative to material consumption”. It is also necessary “to network associative initiatives aimed at the establishment of a different model of society, in order to boost cultural engagement, that is critical to spark off fundamental political transformations”.