Jesuits to discuss Church-State relations in the EU

Jesuits to discuss Church-State relations in the EU

-20/01/06

Relations between church

Jesuits to discuss Church-State relations in the EU

-20/01/06

Relations between church and state, a hot topic at the moment, will be explored in a new series of lectures over the next few weeks at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre in London.

The topics being addressed by Fr James Campbell SJ will include ëReligion and Human Rightsí, and the question about how religion fits into the legal requirements of the European Union.

This series of talks comes at a time when the churches across Europe, including the Roman Catholic Church from which Fr Campbell comes, are having to look afresh at state relations and redefine their relationship with governments and legislators.

Sweden has moved away from having a state church. Norway is exploring the options. And in Germany the withering of the Protestant church tax has also had financial implications for bodies such as the World Council of Churches.

In Britain the Church of England remains the only established church in the realm, and the only state church in the Anglican Communion.

But it has resisted repeated opportunities to discuss the issue, seeking to defend a privileged position in the face of criticism of unfairness from secular bodies – and from Christians, including the UK think tank Ekklesia, who argue that a formal relationship with the Crown also blunts the subversive nature of the Gospel.

The situation of the Catholic Church is different, but it has its own form of the Christendom model, with the Vatican being defined as a city state and having influence in bodies such as the United Nations.

In announcing the lecture series, Fr Campbell said: ìThe recent news from Slovakia demonstrates how religion and politics can so easily come into conflict with each other.î

The European Union has opposed a draft concordat between the Holy See and Slovakia which would guarantee the right of Catholics in that country to refuse to take part in abortions, pointing out that it restricts the rights of other citizens.

These, says Campbell, ìare the sort of issues ? involving human rights, conscience, and the relationship between the European Commission and religion ? that are increasingly playing a part in the lives of Catholics and others.î

Members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) were seen as Romeís ëshock guardí for the counter-reformation. Sometimes accused of being secretive and conspiratorial, in recent years they have acquired a reputation for intellectual rigour and for involvement in education.

Gustavo Gutierrez, the founding father of liberation theology, who lectured in Britain recently, comes from that order ñ as do the six priests who were killed for defending the poor in El Salvador during the 1980s conflict.

Sometimes members of the order have also come into conflict with the Vatican over doctrinal issues ñ such as relations with people of other faith communities (Jacques Dupuis SJ), the nature and identity of Jesus Christ (Roger Haight SJ), and the Gospel of liberation (Fernando Cardenal SJ)

The new series of talks under the title ëChurch-State Relationsí is unlikely to be that controversial, but, say the organizers, promises to be stimulating.

It takes place on Sundays until 26 February 2006, starting each time at 5pm, at Mount Street Jesuit Centre (the Farm Street Church parish hall), 114 Mount Street, London,W1K 3AH ñ telephone 020 7495 1673.

The Centre is a place where Christians can explore and deepen their faith in the areas of theological education, social justice, spirituality, working with young adults and developing parish life.

[Also from Ekklesia: The case for disestablishing the Church of England, by Simon Barrow and Jonathan Bartley; Seeking the commonwelath of Europe, by Simon Barrow; Against Establishment: An Anglican Polemic, by Theo Hobson; Christian think tank calls for disestablishment; Church, State and Establishment, by Paul Avis; C of E disestablishment debate gathers pace; Methodist church takes on disestablishment questions; Global leaders query Church of England state link; Methodists join disestablishment debate; Anarchy in world’s first cyber church; Support for established church fades; Commission of Inquiry on Faith and Nation launched by evangelicals; Call for non-religious chaplains in education and beyond; God and the politicians,BBC2, an Ekklesia response; Support grows for end to anti-Catholic legislation; Post-Christendom debate ignited by Cardinal welcomed; Church After Christendom – Stuart Murray; Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World – Stuart Murray; Meaning of life is 92, say Christians; British Christians to make ‘liberating connections’]

Jesuits to discuss Church-State relations in the EU

-20/01/06

Relations between church and state, a hot topic at the moment, will be explored in a new series of lectures over the next few weeks at the Mount Street Jesuit Centre in London.

The topics being addressed by Fr James Campbell SJ will include ëReligion and Human Rights’, and the question about how religion fits into the legal requirements of the European Union.

In Britain the Church of England remains the only established church in the realm, and the only state church in the Anglican Communion.

In announcing the lecture series, Fr Campbell said: ‘The recent news from Slovakia demonstrates how religion and politics can so easily come into conflict with each other.’

These, says Campbell, ‘are the sort of issues ? involving human rights, conscience, and the relationship between the European Commission and religion ? that are increasingly playing a part in the lives of Catholics and others.’

Members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) were seen as Rome’s ëshock guard’ for the counter-reformation. Sometimes accused of being secretive and conspiratorial, in recent years they have acquired a reputation for intellectual rigour and for involvement in education.

Gustavo Gutierrez, the founding father of liberation theology, who lectured in Britain recently, comes from that order – as do the six priests who were killed for defending the poor in El Salvador during the 1980s conflict.

Sometimes members of the order have also come into conflict with the Vatican over doctrinal issues – such as relations with people of other faith communities (Jacques Dupuis SJ), the nature and identity of Jesus Christ (Roger Haight SJ), and the Gospel of liberation (Fernando Cardenal SJ)

The new series of talks under the title ëChurch-State Relations’ is unlikely to be that controversial, but, say the organizers, promises to be stimulating.

It takes place on Sundays until 26 February 2006, starting each time at 5pm, at Mount Street Jesuit Centre (the Farm Street Church parish hall), 114 Mount Street, London,W1K 3AH – telephone 020 7495 1673.

The Centre is a place where Christians can explore and deepen their faith in the areas of theological education, social justice, spirituality, working with young adults and developing parish life.