Monday, January 22, 2007
Merkel: EU Charter Must Reference Christianity
Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany and current European Union (EU) president, wants to make a much more explicit reference to Christianity in the EU Constitution (Charter).
Merkel told German news weekly Focus, in talks with German cardinal Karl Lehmann, that she regretted that the current draft constitution for the 27-member European Union did not include a mention of God or Christianity. "I would have liked to have seen a clearer declaration on the Christian roots (of Europe)," she said. "No one doubts that they significantly shape our life, our society," the chancellor said. (. . .) The Vatican and other church organizations have expressed regret that the document does not include an explicit reference to Europe's Judeo-Christian origins. (. . .) Last year Merkel was among the EU politicians campaigning for a more explicit reference to Europe's Christian roots. Plans to include such a reference were originally blocked by French President Jacques Chirac. Some German officials hope French conservative presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, who has criticized France's official secularism as too rigid, may support their campaign.Angela Merkel was born Angela Dorothea Kasner from a Lutheran pastor. She married and divorced Ulrich Merkel and is now married to Joachim Sauer. Besides being fluent in German, she speaks near flawless English as well as French, Italian, Russian, and Polish. She is the first 'ossi', or East German from post-unification to lead a united Germany. She is also the first woman and the youngest person ever to hold the position of chancellor since the establishment of Germany in 1871. Her politics is center-right, of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and is called "The Iron Frau", a comparison to the great Prime Minister Thatcher of Great Britain. She has a background in natural sciences and has been described as the "Most Powerful Woman in the World" by Forbes magazine. Ironically, the CDU was refounded under Konrad Adenauer after World War II that helped develop the 'German Miracle' of economic and cultural recovery. The CDU is the main party affiliated with both Catholics and Protestants, though it is less so now. Konrad Adenauer was a devout and practicing Catholic that helped form what is now called the European Union, based on Catholic virtues and values. Which of course the EU has even ignored their own beginning thinking that 'man' is the end of itself. I personally pray that the EU constitution does make a strong reference to Christianity. From a secular point of view, it is a disgrace that such a reference is not even in the constitution. How can a entire continent deny 1500+ years of Christian heritage?
To read this article click here.
To read more about Chancellor Merkel click here.
To read more about Konrad Adenauer click here.
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2 comments:
The German chancellor probably realizes that she wouldn't be chancellor if Europe was more like the Caliphate of Europe. I wonder if behind the scenes Pope Bennidict and the chancellor are discusing these these matters, German to German.
Good insight. I'm not sure myself, though I am sure that the Vatican, ie, Pope Benedict XVI is aware of Chancellor Merkel's push for inclusion of a Christian reference in the EU constitution.