The thought of the Church

Financial crisis and European integration, EU-Church dialogue, transparent procedures, human embryo: these items were tackled yesterday by Msgr. Adrianus van Luyn, bishop of Rotterdam and President of COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community), who inaugurated in Brussels the works of the Autumn Plenary Assembly: “The Financial Crisis and the future of European Integration” (ongoing until October 28). EU existence at risk . Msgr. van Luyn pointed out that active population ageing and intra-generational solidarity were the original themes of the meeting, but “owing to a worsening of the financial situation in Europe and in the rest of the world”, focusing on the “more urgent – and perhaps depressing – ” issue of the financial crisis became paramount. Msgr. Van Luyn made known that the scheduled issues will be discussed in the next Spring Plenary in 2012. “The theme of the financial crisis is of utmost importance since it has repercussions on the lives of many Europeans, triggering the violent reactions of those who realize that their living standards are at risk, and causing the clashes of different ideological stances”. What is “new for us in Europe”, he remarked, is “that until today politicians and economists were unable to solve the problem. They only postponed it. So what is at risk today is not only the standard of living in concrete terms, but also the very existence of the EU”. Euro, integration, solidarity. The euro isn’t only “the common currency” of 17 Member States, it is also “one of the most important symbols of the success of the integration process”, pointed out Msgr. van Luyn, who underlined that one of the most important values in this process “has always been solidarity” which looses its meaning “if in times of major ordeals we are unable to share it with those in need”. Last month, he said, “also another important symbol of the EU – the Schengen area – was challenged”; “some Countries proposed to reinstate border controls while others voted against the Schengen area adhesion of Romania and Bulgaria”, and as a result these two EU countries are not part of the agreement. Msgr. van Luyn equally recalled the document on “Social market economy”, drawn up by COMECE’s Social Commission, which, if approved in the plenary meeting “should be distributed to the public”, as “an important voice in the ongoing debate on the crisis”. Msgr. Van Luyn announced the meeting with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon, and anticipated that the meeting will tackle “the question of dialogue with EU institutions, notably with the Council, and recalled that to a certain extent the visit of the Belgian statesman follows the meeting of religious leaders with the three EU presidents in May 2011. EU-Church Dialogue. The COMECE president underlined the need for “a dialogue on dialogue”. For Msgr. van Luyn “the practical application of art. 17 should take into account” a few aspects. First of all such dialogue “should be ecumenical”, multilateral and bilateral, “purposely structured for the contents at stake and for the involved parties. It should be clear which are the partners of EU institutions and of the Churches”. The dialogue “requires transparency”, and its effectiveness depends on the formal meetings and action. Its purpose “must be clear and transparent” and “it must involve all EU-related themes”, which “are different from those covered by the Council of Europe or by the United Nations”. As regards the Churches, their contribution will “address a vast range of questions” in the light of “the social doctrine of the Churches”. “A periodical informal exchange between the representatives of EU institutions and of the Churches and religious communities must ensure that no important theme will be overlooked”. Msgr. van Luyn thus recalled the registration of the COMECE Secretariat past September 7, in the Register for Transparency (the register that brings together the lobbies and interest groups that wish to access European Commission and Parliament, set up and run by the two bodies in Brussels, editor’s note). Msgr. van Luyn underlined the importance of “respecting the identity of the Catholic Church in any form of registration”. “Since the Catholic Church is supporting the idea of transparency in all areas, we welcome the fact that the conditions agreed by EU Commission and Parliament provide for our registration”. The judgement on the embryo. As regards the recent judgement by the EU Court of Justice on the patentability of inventions that use human stem cells, “the Court confirmed the broadest definition of the human embryo and reiterated the non-patentability of inventions that entail their destruction”, underlined the COMECE president”. In his closing remarks, Msgr. van Luyn recalled the Day for reflection and prayer, “Pilgrims of truth, pilgrims of peace”, called by Benedict XVI in Assisi on October 26, of which European bishops welcomed the invitation to fasting and prayer.