17 November 2003
NEWS
The Metropolite of Sparta Efstathios briefed the Holy Synod on the mission to Fanar
Last week, Metropolite Efstathios of Monemvasia and Sparta and Metropolite Panteleimon of Xanthi delivered to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the formal decision reached by the Church of Greece Hierarchy on the Patriarchate’s claims. The Hierarchy of the Church of Greece was massively behind Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece.
The two Metropolites, who delivered the formal text of the decision of the Church of Greece Hierarchy to the Ecumenical Patriarch, appeared optimistic before the Holy Synod that a solution will be found in the crisis between the Church of Greece and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Metropolite Efstathios of Monemvasia and Sparta, who delivered the Church of Greece decision to the Ecumenical Patriarch, briefed the Holy Synod. He stated that the Ecumenical Patriarch appreciated the hierarchy decision to send its decision with two Metropolites and not by mail.
Partnership between political authorities and Churches vital for future of Europe, says EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou
The draft EU Constitution and analysis of the outcome of the EU Convention on the Future of Europe, from the point of view of Churches, is the theme of the consultation organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Brussels, which began on Thursday 23 October.
EU Commissioner, Anna Diamantopoulou, opened the consultation with the introductory presentation. She underlined the need for protection of the EU social dimension in the perspective of the upcoming enlargement and provisions incorporated in the draft EU Constitution. Social inclusion and the safeguarding of social rights must form part of the main features of the future Union and must not be overwhelmed by one-sided over-emphasis on economic competition. “There is a need for a new system of governance in the Union which would enable us to keep our social benefits in a sustainable manner. Civil society and the churches have to play a substantial role in it,” says Commissioner Diamantopoulou. She underlined the deep challenges Europe has to face today, such as the fight against poverty and social discrimination. “It is impossible to have an effective plan to face these challenges without the partnership of the political authorities with churches and civil society.”
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of 126 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 43 associated organisations.
EU Catholic Bishops: Christianity is a force for unity in Europe
The Christian faith has helped unite Europe throughout history and can still be a force for unity today. This was the principal message of the Catholic Bishops of the EU, meeting in Brussels on 30-31 October 2003. The Catholic Bishops declared that the recognition of the importance of its Christian roots for Europe is about affirming an historical truth, which would not diminish in any way the contribution of other religious and philosophical traditions, which are also clearly mentioned in the preamble. Referring to Christianity and its importance does not mean in any way that Europe has only one religion. It would not put in question the separation of Church and State nor the neutrality of the EU Institutions.
At a public debate during the Plenary Meeting of COMECE, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Catholic Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, and Pierre Morel, French Ambassador to the Holy See, discussed “Ecclesia in Europa”, Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation on the Church in Europe.
“The role of Christianity in the formation of Europe is an undeniable historical fact”, said Cardinal Danneels. “Anyone who denies this role must be doing it for ideological reasons”, he added. “Even if all the values we share in common are not exclusively Christian”, he explained, “they have all passed through the mould of Christianity”.
As Cardinal Danneels pointed out, “The Europe of tomorrow will not be the Europe of the Middle Ages, when the Church technically united Europe. If Christianity succeeds in uniting Europe in the future, it will be because it provides it with a common set of values”.
France’s position on a reference to Christianity in the draft EU Constitution is “not negative, but prudent”, said Ambassador Morel. “The request to mention Christianity leads to requests to mention other sources”, he explained, “which would mean either enumerating various sources in a way that neutralises the contribution of Christianity or making a selection that would be the subject of endless debate”. He said that France welcomed Article 51 of the current draft of the Constitution on the status of Churches and religious organisations, which was “a major advance, without precedent or equivalent in French or European law”.
