Pope asks EU to recall religious roots
-1/11/04
Pope John Paul, reflecting Vatican disap
Pope asks EU to recall religious roots
-1/11/04
Pope John Paul, reflecting Vatican disappointment that Italy’s nominee had to step down from the EU executive because of his religious beliefs, has repeated his call for Europe to remember its religious roots, reports the Reuters news agency.
The 84-year-old pontiff made the statement a day after Rocco Buttiglione, a devout Catholic and close friend of the Pope, withdrew from the incoming EU Commission after his views on homosexuality and women sparked a crisis.
The nature of Europe’s heritage is disputed with some saying that whilst it is undoubtedly religious, it falls far short of deserving the label “Christian”.
But the Polish pope told thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday; “To take into account the Christian roots of the European continent means to avail oneself of a spiritual patrimony that remains fundamental for future developments of the Union”.
Buttiglione became the first nominee to be rejected by an EU parliamentary committee, after he called homosexuality a sin and said marriage allowed women to have children.
Buttiglione’s torpedoing roused debate among Catholics and non-Catholics as to whether a drive for political correctness in Europe was leading to intolerance of those in the 25-nation bloc who hold conservative views.
It was also a latest blow for the Vatican, which failed in its attempts to have Europe’s religious roots enshrined high up in the EU constitution signed by leaders on Friday.
“I hope that in the years to come Christians will continue to bring to all circles of European institutions the gospel message that is the guarantee of peace and collaboration between all citizens in the shared pursuit of common good,” the Pope, who has Parkinson’s disease, said in stronger than usual voice.
Buttiglione, a Catholic philosopher turned politician, stepped down on Saturday calling himself “an innocent victim”.
In an interview on Sunday, he said that being anti-Christian had become the only acceptable prejudice in Europe.
“I sparked a battle, that has only just started and will continue,” he told Italian daily La Repubblica.
European Commissioner and Catholic Chris Patten, however told BBC’s Radio 4 at the weekend that many Catholics continued to hold key and influential positions within the European institutions.
Pope asks EU to recall religious roots
-1/11/04
Pope John Paul, reflecting Vatican disappointment that Italy’s nominee had to step down from the EU executive because of his religious beliefs, has repeated his call for Europe to remember its religious roots, reports the Reuters news agency.
The 84-year-old pontiff made the statement a day after Rocco Buttiglione, a devout Catholic and close friend of the Pope, withdrew from the incoming EU Commission after his views on homosexuality and women sparked a crisis.
The nature of Europe’s heritage is disputed with some saying that whilst it is undoubtedly religious, it falls far short of deserving the label “Christian”.
But the Polish pope told thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday; “To take into account the Christian roots of the European continent means to avail oneself of a spiritual patrimony that remains fundamental for future developments of the Union”.
Buttiglione became the first nominee to be rejected by an EU parliamentary committee, after he called homosexuality a sin and said marriage allowed women to have children.
Buttiglione’s torpedoing roused debate among Catholics and non-Catholics as to whether a drive for political correctness in Europe was leading to intolerance of those in the 25-nation bloc who hold conservative views.
It was also a latest blow for the Vatican, which failed in its attempts to have Europe’s religious roots enshrined high up in the EU constitution signed by leaders on Friday.
“I hope that in the years to come Christians will continue to bring to all circles of European institutions the gospel message that is the guarantee of peace and collaboration between all citizens in the shared pursuit of common good,” the Pope, who has Parkinson’s disease, said in stronger than usual voice.
Buttiglione, a Catholic philosopher turned politician, stepped down on Saturday calling himself “an innocent victim”.
In an interview on Sunday, he said that being anti-Christian had become the only acceptable prejudice in Europe.
“I sparked a battle, that has only just started and will continue,” he told Italian daily La Repubblica.
European Commissioner and Catholic Chris Patten, however told BBC’s Radio 4 at the weekend that many Catholics continued to hold key and influential positions within the European institutions.