Even though “no reference” is made in the Laeken declaration to the role of religions in our continent, “the Churches and the religious confessions present in Europe do not intend to renege on their indispensable task to contribute responsibly to the future of the European continent”. So said Msgr. Faustino Sainz Munoz, apostolic nuncio to the European Community, in his report to the 10th symposium of European bishops in Rome on 27 April. Describing the various stages that have led to the work for the Convention on the future European constitution, begun in Brussels on 28 February, Munoz reported that COMECE has set up a special group on the future of Europe, chaired by Msgr. Attilio Nicora, vice-president of COMECE and delegate of the CEI for juridical questions. In June it will issue “a preliminary document on the constructive and positive contribution to the European social model and on the ‘values’ that one would like to see recognized and implemented in the European Union”. All this, said Munoz, is aimed at “improving the current situation, that is limited to respecting the status that the Churches and the religious confessions have in the member countries”. Moreover, during the Convention of youth, which is due to be held from 9 to 12 July, 210 young people, aged from 18 to 25 years, 6 for each country (nominated by the representatives of the governments and national parliaments), “will be called to participate actively in the debate on the future of Europe”. Hence the appeal of Munoz to the young to intervene, “either as groups or as individuals”, in the various initiatives that concern them in the framework of the work of the Convention, especially “to make known the thought and the wishes of young Catholic believers”.
