In Europe, their are some troubling developments in the question of the forging of a European Constitution. The trouble is coming from the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, former gropee of the President of the United States of America, George Walker Bush.
Yeah, you remember Merkel.
Well, she has a BRILLIANT idea. And when I say brilliant, I mean GW brilliant.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with the help of the churches, is reviving the European constitution - with God included.
After a meeting with the Pope, Merkel said "we need a European identity in the form of a constitutional treaty and I think it should be connected to Christianity and God, as Christianity has forged Europe in a decisive way." She is planning a "Berlin Declaration", claiming that Europe is based on Christian values.
People like to say that the United States is a Christian Nation. But look at our Constitution. Number of mentions of a God? Zero. ZERO!
There was a concerted effort to be sure that it was a secular work. A work for the ages.
The anniversary is stimulating concerted efforts by the Vatican and other churches in alliance with politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who holds the current six-month presidency of the EU, to revive the project for a European constitution - with God included.
After a visit in August to Pope Benedict XVI Merkel said, "we need a European identity in the form of a constitutional treaty and I think it should be connected to Christianity and God, as Christianity has forged Europe in a decisive way."
She is planning a "Berlin Declaration", a statement of principles to underlie a new European constitution. EU heads of government have naturally been asked to contribute - but so have the churches: Germany's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told an assembly of church leaders on 15 January: "Churches have a specific role in the European integration process. . . Churches [are] important partners . . .in discussions on common European values and the future of the European integration process." According to a press release from COMECE, the conference of European Roman Catholic bishops: "Steinmeier highlighted [the churches' role] in respect to the Berlin Declaration."
Incredibly, Steinmeier has warned MEPs not to get involved. According to the EU Observer he told the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee on 23 January that MEPs will not have any major role in the EU's constitution revival project. He warned them not to try to overshadow Berlin's efforts to revive the EU charter, saying "there is no point if the professionals in Europe are competing with one another for the welfare of Europe's citizens".
The churches - not least in the UK - have recently been attacking "secularism" at the least opportunity, defending their privileges as they lose members. They would welcome an EU constitution that embeds yet more privilege on top of the ready access to the Commission they already enjoy.
But a constitution that highlights Europe's supposed Judaeo-Christian heritage will only serve to exacerbate cultural differences. Here and elsewhere there are loud demands from religious minorities to codify cultural differences into family law - even to accept Shari'ah law for Muslims. (A recent survey by NOP showed that some 30% of British Muslims would prefer to live under Shari'ah Law. Among young Muslims the percentage was even higher.)
The common beef of many Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders is Secularism. The intolerance to bowing to the old stories, old traditions (which make certain sections of society inferior), and old tenets. A Christian Europe can counter Shari'ah's worse bits, but so does a secular society. The Christian Europe can be sure to put itself above all others, squelchy dissent. This is about a look back to an earlier Europe, pre-Renaissance.
But it is not a surprise. When she came in their were warnings about her being deeply religious, evangelical levels. Like Blair, who has gotten more intense with the Bush effect. And his, soon to be, replacement, Brown, is a lot like Merkel. So this is just the start.
The centrepiece of the Vision is the "Brussels Declaration", a one-page restatement of our common values, the liberal values of individual freedom, democracy and the rule of law on which modern European civilisation is based. They are not the values of any single culture or tradition but are our shared values, the values that enable Europeans of all backgrounds, cultures and traditions to live together in peace and harmony.
The Brussels Declaration is the outcome of an unprecedented Europe-wide collaboration between humanists, Christians and Muslims, academics, politicians, writers, community leaders and both secular and religious non-governmental organisations.
It has already been endorsed by hundreds of European leaders - politicians, leading academics, commentators - of many different beliefs, and more are signing it every day, as I well know in my role as the co-ordinator for the UK of a team recruiting signatories. Several eminent academics have turned into recruiters themselves, e-mailing a dozen or more colleagues across the continent to recommend it.
The Brussels Declaration
We, the people of Europe, hereby affirm our common values. They are based not on a single culture or tradition but are founded in all of the cultures that make up modern Europe.
We affirm the worth, dignity and autonomy of every individual, and the right of everyone to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. We support democracy and human rights and aim at the fullest possible development of every human being.
We recognise our duty of care to all of humanity including future generations, and our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world.
We affirm the equality of men and women. All persons regardless of race, origin, religion or belief, language, gender, sexual orientation or ability must have equal treatment before the law.
We affirm the right of everyone to adopt and follow a religion or belief of their choosing. But the beliefs of any group may not be used to limit the rights of others.
We hold that the state must remain neutral in matters of religion and belief, favouring none and discriminating against none.
We hold that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. We seek to create a fair society based on reason and compassion, in which every citizen is enabled to play their full part.
We uphold both tolerance and freedom of expression.
We affirm the right of everyone to open and comprehensive education.
We reject intimidation, violence and incitement to violence in the furtherance of disputes, and hold that conflicts must be resolved through negotiation and by legal means.
We uphold freedom of inquiry in every sphere of human life, and the application of science in the service of human welfare. We seek to use science creatively, not destructively.
We uphold artistic freedom, value creativity and imagination, and recognise the transforming power of art. We affirm the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.
Made this 25th day of March 2007, being the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the foundation of the European Union.
Angela Merkel, deep drinker of the Kool Aid of faith.
Did I say deep drinker? Make that binge drinker of faith. Careful, that'll hurt you.
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