Hope-giving strength

With the interview to Msgr. Piotr Jarecki, auxiliary bishop of Warsaw, COMECE vice- President, continues the special features dedicated to the reflections of European Bishops on the European integration process and Church thought regarding the European common home. (cf. SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66-67-69-71-75-76-77-78-79-82-83-84-85/2011 – 01-04/2012).What are Polish Catholics’ opinions and expectations vis a vis the European Union? “The Polish Catholic Church welcomes Poland’s participation in the European integration process. However it points out that said process must not undermine the foundations on which it reposes. Polish bishops have noted on several occasions that united Europe cannot forget its Christian roots. The Semester of Polish EU presidency was yet another opportunity to reiterate this. Already at the beginning of the presidency semester, the Polish bishops called upon national authorities and European public opinion not to neglect important issues for Catholic citizens such as the situation of those persecuted on religious grounds and the authentic respect of the right to religious freedom that also relates to Catholics in a strongly secularized Europe. A strong appeal in the context of demographic problems that Europe is called to face regarded the need to adopt coherent policies in support of the family. Another issues is the need for Europe to show greater solidarity in various fields ranging from the economy, to the political, social and ecologic sectors”. Public opinion is based on correct information: do you think that in your reality there is appropriate information on EU institutions and European Churches?“As regards information on European institutions, there are appears to be plenty that can be easily accessed by everyone. On the other hand, the complexity of the European integration process, the multifarious stakeholders and the specific division of responsibilities between national and European institutions requires in-depth reflection that is sufficiently addressed within Polish public debate. As regards information on the role of the Churches in the European integration process, the Secretariat of the Polish Bishops’ Conference publishes a European bulletin that is sent to Polish dioceses and to all interested parties. It contains a summary of all information on COMECE activity and the role of the Catholic Church in the European integration process”.What contribution can the Church in your Country give Europe?“In Poland, the close bond of the Church with the history and the identity of the Polish people, and at the same time, a constitutional repartition of powers between the State and the Church can stand as an example for dialogue between community institutions and Churches, which after the Lisbon Treaty (Art. 17) is developing within the EU. Religiousness, community spirit, strong bonds with the tradition as well as modernity, commitment of the youth and use of means of communication are all features present within the Polish Church. The Polish Bishops’ Conference’s dialogue initiatives with the Orthodox Church constitute another important feature. All of these initiatives represent an important contribution which the Polish Church could give to Europe that is seeking its identity while remaining open to the surrounding world”.What is your balance of the work conducted by European Churches in the EU to date? “The work of the Church towards the EU is important and useful especially given the ongoing difficult economic crisis. According to the Catholic Church, the roots of the ongoing crisis have moral and most importantly spiritual implications. Moral relativism changes the sense of personal, social and community responsibility. However, the Church not only helps those in need, she also defends their dignity and the common good from individualistic trends. The Church hopes that a European community of solidarity and responsibility will address and overcome the crisis. As the Church can act as the force that unites and gives hope to European societies threatened by populism and divisions. An important contribution of the EU to the Church is the monitoring of community legislation developments notably the rulings of the EU Court of Justice. The latest example is the ruling issued by the Court of Justice regarding research with the use of embryo stem cells. The recent publication of the COMECE bishops’ document ‘A European Community of Solidarity and Responsibility’, which focuses on the European model of social market economy, is another important contribution”.