Reflections on Turkey

IT IS becoming clear that Cardinal Ratzinger's outright no to Turkey's membership of the European Union is his own private opinion which is not shared by many in the Church. Last Sunday we published a piece which shows that the Vatican is neutral on the subject.

Today we bring to the attention of our readers the position of the EU Bishops expressed in a statement released after their plenary meeting held in Brussels from November 18 to 19.

The European Bishops say that:

"To decide whether Turkey can start negotiations with a view to acceding to the EU in the future, is a political and not a religious question. This political question deserves a wide discussion in European civil society.

"For the Catholic Church, it is important that Turkey and the EU develop their relations in a constructive and amicable way. Religion does not constitute an obstacle for a country such as Turkey, with a majority Muslim population, from becoming a member of the EU. In any case, it is important that Turkey respects fundamental rights, for example the equality of status for women, freedom of speech and association and religious freedom.

"Therefore, it must be asked whether it is appropriate to open negotiations with Turkey, while fundamental rights including religious freedom are not fully respected in that state. The European Commission has stated this fact in its report of October 6, yet it did not conclude that the opening of negotiations should be linked with the full respect of these rights."

The bishops of the EU member states propose that before membership negotiations are opened, the Turkish government be required to correct shortcomings with regard to religious freedom and the legal status of minorities .

Fr Vanni Xuereb was representing Archbishop Mercieca at the meeting.