European Churches" "
With its referendum held on Sunday 23 March, Slovenia opted for entry into the European Union. The results showed that 89.61% of the votes were cast in favour of EU membership, whereas only 10.39% voted against. Consent for NATO membership was lower (66.06%) against 33.98% against; the beginning of military operations in Iraq probably had a negative impact. Only 60% of the electorate bothered to vote. The Slovene Catholic Church supported the campaign both for membership of the EU and of NATO. The Justice and Peace Commission of the Slovene Episcopal Conference, in a declaration issued last year, had exhorted believers to support Slovenia’s entry into both organizations. The metropolitan archbishop of Ljubljana and president of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Franc Rode, commenting on the results of the referendum, said that “the high percentage in favour of EU and NATO membership is no surprise. The population has chosen European integration and the consequent development of united Europe, as well as security. It’s the task of the Catholic Church to exhort her own faithful to devote themselves in the new European associations to the promotion of fundamental human rights, the rule of law, justice and peace in the world”. Slovenia will sign the treaty confirming its membership of the EU, which will permit it to sit at the table of Europe from 1 May 2004, in a ceremony in Athens on 16 April.
