Overcoming fears, building bridges

While the European Union strives to find a common vocabulary to address the manifold challenges exerting pressure in different areas (economic crisis, migration, security threats, xenophobia, centrifugal forces and secessionisms…), the religious communities’ appeals and calls to unity are voiced from the Old Continent. It was the highlight of the meeting between EU institutions and religious leaders, held in Brussels June 16, under article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. Accepting diversity. “Living together and accepting diversity”: this is the theme of an intense debate that saw as protagonists the first Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, the deputy chairman of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and fifteen religious leaders of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Mormon faith communities. For Catholics were present Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and Freising president of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops Conferences of the European Community) and Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement. With them, faith dignitaries from all over Europe, including the Reverend Christopher Hill, president of the Conference of European Churches, Metropolitan Joseph of the Romanian Orthodox Church, François Clavairoly, president of the Protestant Federation of France, Catherine Karkala-Zorba, of the Orthodox Academy of the ecumenical Patriarchate (Greece), Albert Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Brussels, permanent Representative to the Conference of European Rabbis, Khalid Hajji, Secretary of the European Council of Moroccan ulemas. More united societies. “This dialogue is more important than ever”, Frans Timmermans declared commenting on the meeting. “Our societies are facing key challenges, and Churches and religions can play an important role in promoting social cohesion and bridging divides. The leaders who are here are partners of the EU Commission, and in this seat they can share their experiences in the fight against fundamentalism and discrimination and the spreading of an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust”. According to participants, the meeting conclusions will provide matter for debate for the first annual meeting on the fundamental rights of the EU, scheduled to take place next October 1-2, centered on the theme “Tolerance and respect: preventing and combating anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hate in Europe”. Complex problems. “We expressed deep concern for the situation of migrants and asylum-seekers in Europe”, “mindful of the Pope’s words” on this theme. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, provided some interpretative keys to the debate, described as “open, honest and useful”. The discussions focuses, inter alia, on the migration emergency, the conflict situations inside and outside EU borders, the threats to security and the fears caused by terrorism and religious fanaticism, on the role and presence of the church in the public arena of EU Countries, on the “foreign fighters”. “We intend to commit ourselves for migrants’ integration – Marx pointed out – although accurate answers” to this regard “should come from the political realm. The EU must reach an agreement that encompasses the equal distribution of refugees” landing on Mediterranean shores. “It is equally important to examine the root causes of the migration phenomenon”, which requires cooperation with the Countries of departure and migrants’ transit countries. The Cardinal underlined: “I understand that these are complex problems and that answers can’t be found overnight. But there is need for cooperation and unity” at European political level. Education and values. Anglican bishop Christopher Hill addressed the question of migration: “It always plays a major role on our agendas. The Churches, along with all faith communities in Europe have the precise responsibility of being everyone’s conscience”. Hill underlined the “unique role” that religious leaders are called to play in Europe as “builders of bridges”. Several people spoke of European identity based on shared values of solidarity and peace. From this perspective xenophobic and populist threats “represent a problem for all European populations”. Several religious leaders voiced their explicit concern over the creation, within the European Parliament, of the “Europe of Nations and Freedoms” eurosceptic group, chaired by French MEP Marine Le Pen. Finally, Timmermans underlined “the major contribution that churches can give on the educational plane” envisaging a large framework of values mindful of European history, of the need for dialogue between cultures and faiths, capable of impacting the public opinion, hammered by media language that tends to exacerbate problems and trigger escalating “closures towards those who are different or towards the stranger”.