Bishops' thumbs up to EU enlargement

"Enlargement (of the EU) is an opportunity concretely to promote and realise throughout the whole of Europe fundamental values which are also of primary importance to the Church: solidarity, mutual respect and friendship between peoples."

This is the opinion of the European Bishops about the enlargement of the European Union. They are so enthusiastic about the project that they entitled the document they released last Monday as "Hope, Trust and Solidarity".

According to the report published last Tuesday in The Times, this declaration was made by the representatives of the Catholic bishops in the member states. But, according to Mgr Treanor, secretary of the Bishops' Commission, it "also had the blessing of Churches from five acceding countries, including Malta".

No one should be surprised that the Church in Malta supported this brave, positive statement on EU enlargement. We remind our readers that the Maltese Bishops on December 5, 2000, said that "for the Catholic Church, as the Pope has said, the enlargement of the EU is not only an urgent challenge for the Union but it is also a historic calling that one has to make certain that it will be successful".

The position of the European Bishops, including our own, contrasts in an absolute way with that of local Eurosceptics, even those who claim to represent the true Catholic position on the EU and its enlargement process. These local Eurosceptics see the EU as a latter-day Babylon or a great corruptor of values.

The European Bishops, including our own, rubbish such a negative position. On the contrary, they look at the EU very positively.

Let's once more quote from their statement:

"The European Union is founded on universal values. The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the source and inspiration for many of these values. Inspired by the Gospel, and in view of the imminent challenge of integrating ten new member states into this community, we commend to our political leaders and all current and future citizens of the European Union hope, trust and, above all, solidarity."

This support of the Church for the process of European integration is not something that cropped up recently. This support has been ongoing.

"The Catholic Church is and has always been supportive of the efforts of outstanding political leaders and citizens to bring lasting peace and well-being to our continent through a 'community of solidarity' based on economic and political integration."

Such statements show that the position of the local Eurosceptics has no sound leg to stand on. Their only comfort can be in the position of arch-conservatives who make their home in Poland's Radio Maria, and its like. This radio station has been for repeatedly taking positions which contrast with that of the Polish episcopate.

Where local Eurosceptics see dangers, the European Bishops see opportunities. What a different mentality! Where local Eurosceptics see darkness, the Bishops of Europe see light. While local Eurosceptics are negative, the European Bishops are positive.

The local Eurosceptics have a number of staple buzz words and phrases about the EU, including: legalisation of same-sex marriages, proliferation (besides legalisation) of abortion and corruption of values. The Bishops of Europe have no words of warning about these bogus scarecrows. If what the local Jeremiahs say is correct, wouldn't the Bishops of Europe utter one word of warning? Would not they tell "poor" Malta to beware if the dangers projected by these Eurosceptics had any basis in the real world? On the contrary:

"The accession of ten new member states will help to realise a hope particularly cherished by the Church: that 'Europe must breathe with both its lungs'. This project should now provide a source of hope to other European countries and peoples."

As if this were not enough, read on:

"We, the Bishops believe the accession of ten new member states to the European Union, to represent a profoundly significant transformation in our continent's history. This community of different cultures will constitute a step towards a European common good. For us therefore, this is not the 'enlargement' but the 'Europeanisation' of the European Union."

Local Eurosceptics describe the EU as an association where the big countries have total control over the small ones. The Bishops of Europe have a totally different opinion.

"Every member is equal in the Union, and so must work not only in their own interests but in the interest of the whole community. In the enlarged Union, this will require a renewed commitment of trust from all member states and the full recognition of the community institutions, to which the member states have entrusted the indispensable task of working for the common good."

For the bishops of Europe the process is so positive that Christians cannot be observers or onlookers.

"As Christians, we cannot be mere spectators of the political processes in Europe. Our task is to engage creatively in the search for solutions to socio-ethical challenges, which will promote the common good and dignity of the human person in accordance with the universal values espoused by the Christian view of humankind.

"The debate in the European Convention, which is the first occasion on which representatives of both the current and the new member states have been invited to co-determine the future of the European Union, is an opportunity for us all to help define the values and objectives of our common project. With hope, trust and solidarity, we as Bishops undertake to continue supporting and contributing creatively to that project and we encourage all believers and citizens to share in this common endeavour."