PARIS, France — Seven nations in the European Union (EU) have urged that the bloc’s new constitution make an explicit reference to Europe’s Christian roots.
But France said on May 24 that it could not accept such references.
The debate over what, if any, reference should be made to God, Christianity and Europe’s religious heritage, has been one of the most contentious issues facing European foreign ministers since they began drafting the EU constitution in early 2002.
Pope John Paul II has been one of the strongest proponents of making an explicit reference to Christianity in the constitution.
Foreign ministers of Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia sent a letter to the EU presidency, currently held by the minister from Ireland urging a re-examination of the issue, Reuters reported. The seven nations are predominantly Roman Catholic.
They said the amendment they were seeking “is aimed to recognize a historical truth” — two millennia of Christianity in Europe.
But France, which is supported by Belgium and several other mostly Protestant countries as well as prospective member Turkey, which is mostly Muslim, opposed any changes in the proposed constitution. The current text says the EU draws “inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe.”
The text of the proposed constitution is expected to be finalized by a June 17–18 summit of government leaders.
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