Message for Europe” “

Evaluation of plans for the enlargement of the European Union, especially on the basis of the degree of participation of European citizens. Approval of two declarations: the first on the family and demographic trends; the second on ethics and scientific research. And a reflection on the 40th anniversary of Vatican Council II, which opened new horizons for the role of the Church in the world, including the posing of the question: “You, Church in Europe, what have you to propose to Europe today”. These are the issues that COMECE (Commission of the episcopates of the European Community) will discuss at its “Plenary Assembly – autumn 2005” to be held in Brussels from 16 to 18 November. The main theme of the meeting: “Overcoming the crisis through solidarity – A message for you, Church in Europe”. Other issues to be discussed will include the third Ecumenical Assembly at Sibiu, the “Summer University” project, and the agency for the fundamental rights of the EU. We discussed them with Msgr. NOËL TREANOR , general secretary of Comece. What specifically does the Church have to propose to Europe today? “It seems to us that, at least at the macro-political level, the European Union is going through a difficult phase, and perhaps also one in which Europe’s political leaders have difficulty in grasping how to guide the European project and how to formulate the political decisions for the future. We believe that the key for the advancement of Europe today is solidarity. But it is a form of solidarity that is called to be expressed at two levels. The European project was born because formerly hostile countries chose the way of partnership and solidarity in the field of coal and steel. In more recent times, this solidarity has been experienced at the financial level in the social field, in the field of structural funds, of agriculture and of the development of the infrastructures of all member states. What we citizens of Europe have not sufficiently grasped is the fact that solidarity can also become a political method as a way of balancing powers in the new Europe and as a principle of equality between all member countries, large and small”. The Union is suffering from public disaffection. What’s your view? “The European Union has undoubtedly been dealt a blow by the shock of the double ‘no’ in France and Holland. The European Commission has published a plan for a ‘Strategy of communication with a view to enlargement’. We would like to examine this proposal, to evaluate its scope and contents, and especially to see how the local Churches can promote the participation of the faithful and the Catholic organizations in this debate. According to the plan of the European Commission, the first agents of this strategy are the member states. But we have ascertained that the State alone is unable to convince citizens. Citizens themselves also need to get mobilised and foster a sense of responsibility and of national and European citizenship. So we need to understand what are the plans of the EU and how the local Church can play a role”. The delegate bishops will also approve two declarations. On what? “The first concerns demographic change and the need to support the family and family life. In this declaration some observations are made about the current demographic situation in Europe, taking its cue from the recent publication of a green paper by the European Commission, which asked that the text be read carefully and invited responses. Comece has replied on behalf of the Bishops’ Conferences. Some particular points will be underlined in this declaration. The other declaration concerns ethics and the policy of scientific research of the European Union, in particular the co-financing of research projects that involve the human embryo and the use of stem cells”. Can you tell us anything more on this point? “The essence of this second declaration is to say that the Church is not contrary to but supports scientific research. But it also says that research must respect the inviolability of human life, especially in the field of embryos and stem cells. The declaration reaffirms that there are limits in this field and that it is not ethically responsible to do everything that is technically and scientifically feasible. It also makes the point that the ethical dimension cannot be relativized or marginalized in the field that concerns the origin itself of human life. Bearing in mind that research that destroys embryos is prohibited in some member countries of the EU, and on the basis of the principle of subsidiarity and precaution, we ask the EU not to co-finance these specific research projects and these types of experiments”.