Something to say

With the interview to Msgr. Róbert Bezák, C.SS.R., archbishop of Trnava (Slovakia), continues the special SIR Europe series on the reflection of European bishops regarding the European integration process and Church thought on the common European home. (Cf. SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66-67-69-71-75-76-77-78/2011).What opinions and expectations do Catholics in your country have regarding the EU?“The first expectation is that the EU should contribute to development of mutual contacts and closeness. If there are no borders, it’s much nicer, and we experienced very tough borders – electric fences, iron curtain. When our people visit Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, it’s a chance to strengthen their faith, to exchange experiences and views. I realize that the motion of the Holy Spirit knows no borders at all and I see the expectations of Slovak Catholics mainly in mutual enrichment. Our people can offer their emotions, Slovak tradition, joy bursting out of faith. I believe it could be a source of encouragement for others. For me, the European Union is a God´s work – openness, closeness, getting to know one another, nevertheless all the difficulties that can arise. On the other hand – stars on European flag are a sign of the way the Holy Scripture reminds us. Woman surrounded by stars – and Europe, in fact, is a ‘woman’. I would be glad if we could see here a great chance for cooperation, closeness, but the journey is still very long”.Consensus is based on correct information: considering your daily experience, do you believe that information on the EU and European Churches is adequate?“Economical dimension of the EU is presented as a priority, instead of the dimension of inner freedom, chance for friendship and closeness of people. It would be a disaster if we understood Europe only on the level of common currency. This view is too tapered. I am afraid that the information submitted to public is too pragmatic and we see only a fragment of the beauty that the borders would not exist any more. I would expect an effort to perceive a deeper sense of the EU. Of course, the flow of information is huge and it’s hard for a man to discern the priorities, perhaps it would be useful to see bigger effort of the people in charge to show a bit more of the positive meaning of EU. In regard to European Churches, we in Slovakia deal mainly with own worries and care very little about what happens in neighbouring countries. We have only partial information about the life of the Church abroad, so it would convene to have more complex view, common thinking – that’s what is missing, although the chances are already open”.How can the Church in your country contribute to the European Union?“The Church in Slovakia must be aware of its position in Europe. Although we may feel that our Christianity and life of the Catholics is nice comparing to some other countries, I notice some kind of fear to do things in a new way. We have people who, thank God, live their faith profoundly and can be a leaven for the society. I have seen Slovak communities abroad – in Dublin, London, Switzerland – communities of Catholics really committed to their faith in everyday life. We needn’t be afraid to enter this scene, find our ‘chair by the table’ and not just look abashedly from the corner. In this sense we should become undepreciated members of the Christian Europe”.What do you think about work carried out by European Churches in the EU so far?“The EU profiles primarily as civil and lay body, union where it seems to be a bit of problem to confess Christian values. I see it as a fight that is still waiting to be fought and won, fight for our own identity. European Churches should not resign to loss of consciousness about the importance of Christianity for whole Europe. This is how the EU has been created. This is where I see the strength of the Church. It is taken more like an observer or a guest in the European institutions and no one asks about its opinion, it’s more like they say: Here you are, take a seat and listen to our solutions, so in this sense we need to be realistic. Europe is secular, even though the Christianity transcends to all its parts. The Church should rise its voice and call attention to this inner identity, to the ontology of Europe. The truth is that if we wouldn’t do it, if we would hide into privacy, the idea of the united Europe would lose its sense, its spiritual power. The reason why we are in Brussels is because we want to be there. Catholic Church has always something to say. It could be compared to the parents’ will to say to their children what they feel inside their hearts, but it’s up to children to apply it to reality. I believe that Europe is wise enough to understand the voice of the Church, standing in the background as a ‘parent’ of the idea of united nations”.