State-religion agreement: ” “"Poorer but freer" ” “

On Monday January 26 was signed the Convention between the government of Xavier Bettel, who leads a coalition of Green-Left-Liberals and the "Council of recognised faiths" representing the Jewish and Muslim communities, the Catholic Church, as well as the Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches. This mini-concordat has a 20-year duration. The three points of the Convention envisage that national economic support to religious communities will gradually increase from 24.6 to 8.3 million euros (6.75 of which to the Catholic Church, that currently receives 23.72); the Muslim community, which until today had never benefited from the measure, is now recognised as recipient of government funds. Moreover, the Catholic Church will use the grant to remunerate also priests and collaborators with pastoral responsibilities. Secondly, the present religious and moral formation courses are set to be replaced by a course in "education to values". Third: ecclesial bodies (except for the Cathedral, the Echternach Basilica and the "Centre Jean XXIII") will be under the full economic responsibility of the Church, no longer of municipal authorities. Sarah Numico has interviewed for SIR Europe the archbishop of Luxembourg Msgr. Jean-Claude Hollerich, to evaluate the new agreement. The "Convention" was described as a compromise reached with the political community, but for the Catholic Church it appears to represent a defeat from many angles. "Clearly, there are some very painful aspects. The most painful for me is that religion is no longer taught in schools. Also State funding will be gradually reduced to 30% of the current allocation. For the Churches this means that we will no longer be able to maintain all the religious buildings we have now. It’s naturally painful for the archbishop to have to abandon churches. But we will have greater freedom in the future. The Church will continue receiving public funding and religions continue being registered in Luxembourg’s Constitution. Thus the Church will be able to live and continue her mission in the next 20 years". Religious communities together were willing to assume their responsibility for religious education in schools: why hasn’t it been possible to obtain something to this regard? "Already during the election campaign some parties announced they would abolish religion. With parliament majority the government wouldn’t even have been able to negotiate it with us. Instead, we obtained that the Council of Religions intervene in the definition of the programs of the education to values. It’s not the ideal solution, but it’s better than nothing". It will be a poorer Church… "I’m not afraid of this form of poverty. We hear what Pope Francis says and how he speaks to people’s hearts, proclaiming the Gospel. Our possibilities in Gospel proclamation are more when we are poor". What is the experience of Luxembourg regarding the role of religions in today’s Europe? "In all European societies the faithful are becoming a minority, while increasing numbers of citizens are non-believers. We should regain a role in society along with the relationship with the State. That’s what we did. The fact that religions were united in the renegotiation process is a positive fact, avoiding in every way demonstrations against Islam, as is happening now in Germany. This union of religions is not syncretism, rather, it means respect for others in order to defend religion together and implement it into societies that are ever less capable of understanding religions and those who practice them". The laicity of European states has severe consequences on the rest of the world. Suffice it to consider the attacks in Paris and the massacre of Christians in Nigeria. How should it be taken it into account? "Europe is making a serious mistake. Europe no longer understands religions and is cutting its roots. I don’t want to look at the past and at the Christian roots of Europe the whole time, but this is the meaning of the Pope’s speech in Strasbourg. If Europe cuts its roots it will no longer have a role in the rest of humanity". You are also president of Justitia et Pax Europe: which path will bring justice and peace? "We should render justice to the various religions so they may peacefully coexist, and we must also extend from tolerance to mutual respect. If not, European societies will be torn societies".