The Church in Europe... without God?

While the sober debate on the European Constitution goes on, it is very appropriate to mention two special contributions: an article by Alan Woodrow in The Tablet, "Europe without God" June 21) and the Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe) by Pope John Paul II.

In his article, Woodrow strongly takes to task the drafters of the European Constitution for their "incomprehensible amnesia" when he stresses: "It looks as though the secularists have won - there will be no mention of Christianity in the future European Constitution. Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the French president of the European Convention which finalised the main part of the draft constitution on June 13, has turned a deaf ear to the numerous appeals and demands - from the Vatican; the European episcopal conferences and French Protestant Federation - that the document's Preamble should include a reference to those religions which have contributed to European civilisation.

"Giscard's specious reasoning was that 'to mention one religion would entail mentioning them all, which was unacceptable to the majority of the convention's members'."

In reality the only concession is a grudging reference to this continent's "religious and humanist heritage", and to the "spiritual fervour" present in its history.

In his Apostolic Exhortation The Church in Europe, the Pope insists that Christ has a place in today's Europe as much as he had in the past. The exhortation is mostly the conclusions and proposals presented at the end of the second Synod of the European bishops in October l999.

Among the 179 bishops who participated was the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Joseph Mercieca. The main theme of the Synod was: "Christ alive in his Church, the source of hope for Europe". While John Paul II says the Church has a valuable treasure to offer to Europe and today's society, he invites one and all to proclaim the mystery of Christ, as many Europeans have a great thirst for God, while he notes that the number of those who do not receive baptism is increasing and some of the baptised are not practising their faith because of the influence of secularism. These badly need a new form of evangelisation.

While the Pope, in his exhortation, complains that the real meaning of the sacraments of Confession and of the Holy Eucharist has diminished, he also draws the attention of the faithful to the systematically decreasing birth-rate, the ever increasing practice of abortion, the decrease of those attending Mass, the lack of vocations, the increase in divorce cases and in euthanasia.

Pope John Paul II concludes that we will never have a healthy European Union if we reduce it to only a matter of geographical and economic dimensions. Once more the Holy Father requests in his Apostolic Exhortation that in the future European Constitution there should be a reference to the continent's religious heritage, particularly to Christianity and the rights of the Christian Churches and religious communities. One has to reflect in depth that the "Gospel is not against peoples, but it is for peoples".