Christianity and the European Constitution. (News in Brief: Vatican).

Vatican City -- The European Parliament has been trying to avoid any reference to Christianity in its proposed constitution. The Pope keeps on insisting that Christianity cannot and may not be excluded (see C.I., News in Brief, Vatican Sept. 2002).

The Pope is being supported by Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, who stated that the proposed constitution should not exclude cultural and religious traditions, especially the Christian, which forged the continent.

As well, Irishman Patrick Cox, who is presently president of the European Parliament, following an audience with the Pope on January 3, 2003, said that the future of the constitution will respect the identity of Catholics "as well as civil and legal rights of churches."

Italian politicians are supporting the recognition of Christian values in the Constitution as well. The Italian bishops are insisting that mentioning the continent's Christian roots in a European constitution cannot be a "mere formal homage to an element of tradition." Bishop Betori, secretary of the Italian episcopal conference, outlined three elements that should be included in the constitution:

1. The future constitution should recognize the institutional autonomy of the churches and religious communities;

2. There should be specific recognition of the identity and role played in society by the churches and religious communities, as well as a provision for structured dialogue between them and the European Union;

3. The EU's legislation must respect explicitly the special statute that every church and religious community enjoys in national legislations (Zen it, Feb. 28/ 03).

France seems determined to keep Christianity out. Its spokesman, President Jacques Chirac, recently stated: "As a representative of a secular state, I am not for a religious reference." And although the Pope, in a meeting with former French president and current European Convention President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, reiterated his hopes that a future constitution would recognize the role of religion on the continent, there has been no statement from Giscard d'Estaing.

The European Convention was expected to hand its proposal to the heads of government of the European Union at the end of March 2003. Also the European Parliament has already voted to compel all European Union nations to fund abortion in developing countries. This means that EU member Ireland, which has a pro-life constitution, as well as pro-life countries not yet full EU members such as Malta and Poland, will have to fund abortions overseas through their EU contributions (Life Site, Feb. 13; Zenit, Feb. 28/03).