Strength of the network

With the interview to Msgr. Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan, Apostolic Administrator of Estonia, and to Msgr. Theodorus Cornelis Maria Hoogenboom, auxiliary bishop of Utrecht, SIR Europe continues the special features dedicated to the reflections of European Bishops on the process of European integration and on Church though on the European common home. (Cf. SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66-67-69-71-75-76-77-78-79-82-83-84).What opinion and expectations do Catholics in your country have regarding the European Union?Msgr. Jourdan: “The European Union is generally well seen by the Catholics of my country (I am the only bishop). It is important for us in terms of integration into Europe and also of security and protection of our independence. For that reason, Estonia has always tried to play it role in the European community, and follow all the EU recommendations (for instance now about the debt, etc…)”.Msgr. Hoogenboom: “ The general trend among church-attending Catholics seems to be that they tend to be more positive towards Europe than ‘cultural’ Catholics. The bishops’ conference does not conduct research into the political opinions of Catholics.Consensus is based on correct information: considering your daily experience, do you believe that information on the European Union and European Churches is adequate?Msgr. Jourdan: “I think that the information about the European Union is quite correct. However, there is also a certain fear lately of being imposed things by the Brussels that the Estonian people don’t want, also on ethical issues. The past in the Soviet Union reminds us that independence and sovereignty is to be protected constantly. I think especially that recent campaigns, presented as being against homophobia, financed by EU and very much supported by some EU embassies, have not been very well received in a country where there is much freedom and tolerance, as well as great majority in favor of the natural conception of family”. Msgr. Hoogenboom: “We are happy with the professional information supply that we receive through the channels of COMECE. This is enhanced by regular plenary meetings of the bishops where specific subjects are dealt with in detail. Furthermore we benefit from the contacts that our experts have with the experts at COMECE and experts from other European bishops’ conferences through the meetings of the legal and social committees”.How can the Church in your country contribute to the European Union?Msgr. Jourdan: “ The Catholic Church is quite small here and we have some influence only together with the other churches, especially the Lutheran Church. But there is a great consensus on almost all ethical and moral issues among our different churches (it is not always the case in the other Nordic countries), which enables us to make common declarations on important issues, and have a significative dialogue with the government. I think it is a good way to build the European Union”.Msgr. Hoogenboom: “As we have only a small staff at the national level, we depend to a large extend on the expertise of the COMECE office in Brussels to make our contributions count in the European debate”.What do you think about work carried out by European Churches in the EU so far? Msgr. Jourdan: “I think that the European Churches have done the best they could do, in a context of strong secularization in Europe. But there is still much to do. Perhaps they could do more collaborating more among themselves, for instance with the Orthodox churches (quite strong in our country), in order to protect Christian values of Europe”. Msgr. Hoogenboom: “ With the implementation of the Lisbon treaty a whole new era in the relations between the European churches and the European Institutions has started. We feel that important things have been achieved, but hope that more can be done, especially with regard to ethical discussion and the contributions of catholic social teaching”.