Universities,” “together is best” “” “

The Catholic University of Budapest, in Hungary, was one of the first to be founded after the political upheaval. It was founded in 1992. It has some 8,000 students and its degrees enjoy full state recognition. Hungarian law, moreover, guarantees state funding, which is also authorized to the Calvinist University of Budapest and to the other Church-sponsored universities in the country. We asked its Rector, Msgr. Peter Erdö , for a reflection on the role of the Catholic Universities, especially those in Eastern Europe, in the process of the construction of the European Union. Each Constitution is founded on the culture of the people and this also goes for the proposed European Constitution which is being much discussed at the present time. In Europe, culture is born from the Christian legacy of the Judeo-Christian world. Its main values are now, for the most part, the heritage of the Churches. Europe therefore – as the Pope said in the message to wrote for the meeting of European university teachers – cannot dispense with the Churches because the Christian communities make an indispensable contribution to its construction. In the first place Christian culture may help believers and non-believers alike to cultivate the values of friendship and solidarity between peoples: both virtues are an indispensable requisite for Europe of the twenty-first century. Only a reconciliation based on friendship and solidarity may help Europe to overcome old hatreds and nationalistic urges. In the post-war years, the Germans and the French had a need to be reconciled to each other. Today this need for reconciliation between peoples is once again deeply felt in the central and eastern area of the continent. And the Churches – in this context too – are playing an irreplaceable role. In the framework of the rediscovery and enhancement of the Christian roots of Europe, a significant place is occupied by the Catholic universities. I believe that on the universities – and first and foremost those of Christian inspiration – is especially incumbent the task of reinforcing the cultural basis of the Union, understood both as view of the world and as European common conscience. But for that to happen, it’s important to form a network covering the whole continent. That’s the project that has given rise to the Federation of the Catholic Universities of Europe (FCUE), which provides a link between the Catholic universities. It also exploits to the best, and helps to pool, the intellectual capacities present in them and the different experiences that each develops. For example, the jurists of the various juridical traditions and geographical areas may exchange experiences on the basis of a common Christian view of the development of society, thus giving rise to an interesting dialogue of which Europe has a need. But there’s another factor that should be considered. The Catholic universities that are about to be established in the former Communist part of the continent represent, in their respective countries, very important centres of culture, science and, also, of the European spirit, because in these countries the Catholic university is an institution that enjoys prestige. In Albania people have long been dreaming of a Catholic university to be able to endow their country with a strong centre of culture. Next week, a Catholic University is being opened in Lvov, in the Ukraine; it comprises an important centre of German studies, and faculties of humanistic and theological sciences. Our university of Budapest is currently developing many relations of partnership, including joint degrees, with various other Catholic universities, including the Cattolica in Milan and the St. Francis University. I hope that the preferential collaboration between the Catholic Universities may help reinforce the belonging, not only political but cultural, of these peoples to Europe and consequently the development of the regions that are now waiting to join the European Union