For the common good

With an interview with Msgr. Egon Kapellari (Austria), bishop of Graz-Seckau (Austria), SIR Europe is continuing its special feature dedicated to the reflections of European bishops on the process of European integration and on the Church’s thought on the European common home (cfr SIR Europe 62-63-64-65-66/2011).What opinions and expectations do Catholics in your country have regarding the EU? “Usually Catholics do not have substantially different views on the EU compared to other Austrians (considering that 75% of Austrians still belong to the Catholic Church). In 1994, two thirds of the Austrian population (67%) agreed to Austria’s entry into the European Union. Measures introduced by the EU against Austria, because of pressures exerted by some member States following the election, in the year 2000, of a conservative right-wing government (measures that were later repealed since they were groundless) shook the country and the situation has remained more or less unchanged since then. The EU’s enlargement between 2004 and 2007 has made the situation worse, despite the fact that the Austrian economy has largely profited from European enlargement. This basic feeling is enhanced by some media and is skillfully exploited by a number of political parties. Bishops have accompanied European integration and Austria’s EU membership with a positive spirit and critical discernment”. Consensus is based on correct information: considering your daily experience, do you believe that information on the European Union and European Churches is adequate? “As I have said before, Austrians’ opinions on the EU are not always based on correct information. Right before the 1994 referendum, excessively high expectations were fostered (every Austrian would gain financial benefits from EU membership) or specific fears were wilfully fomented (loss of identity and dependence upon “remote Brussels”). On top of this, you must add the well-known tactic, practised in other EU member State as well, of taking credit for political achievements at European level, while blaming shortfalls only on the EU, as if Austria were not even part of the EU. The commitment of the Church in favor of the EU is only partly perceived by public opinion, for example when Sundays have to be kept as holidays, or migrants and bioethics need to be protected”.How can the Church in your country contribute to the European Union? “The Catholic Church in Austria is substantially in favor of the European integration process and the EU. However, this does not mean that the Church, bishops and lay movements do not sanction specific issues or developments. Criticism is always constructive, however: by making concrete and informed proposals regarding the EU’s political initiatives, the Church wants to achieve improvements. When Austria joined the European Union, the Austrian Bishops’ Conference set up a department devoted to European matters within its own general secretariat and opened an office in Brussels that specifically focuses on European issues and contacts with European institutions and EuroMPs in Brussels. Lastly, Catholic schools always organize information initiatives dedicated to EU matters”. What do you think about work carried out by European Churches in the EU so far? “The Austrian Bishops’ Conference is a member of COMECE, initially as an observer then, when Austria joined the EU, as a full-fledged member. Cooperation among Bishops’ Conferences in the EU has proved to be sensible and fruitful so far. At the same time, however, this cooperation is taking place at a time of deep social change, which does not always facilitate the life of the Church, which is viewed as ‘institutionalized religion’. In the future, it will be evermore necessary that the Church’s contributions to the EU’s political projects are not only informed and relevant, but also respect the Church’s commitment towards Mankind and the common good as the ‘quintessence of the Church’, as a task that is rooted in Christ’s Gospel and is constantly reiterated by the Church’s social encyclicals”.