News • November 30 2003

Christianity – a ‘dirty’ word

Fr Vanni Xuereb
President - Commission for the Church in Malta & Europe
Maltese Episcopal
Conference
FlorianaWhy is it that the word ‘Christianity’ has almost become a "dirty" word in the vocabulary of certain European politicians, Maltese included?
Why in the name of pluralism, freedom and democracy are Christians being almost obliged to shut up about what characterizes their very lives as human beings while others have their say?
Why is it acceptable to refer to the humanist inheritance of Europe in the new Constitution for Europe, but not to the Christian inheritance?
Although I totally agree with Dr Harry Vassallo (Malta Today, 23 November) that "no mention of Christianity in the EU constitution will make Europeans more Christian," I fear that he completely misses the point regarding the purpose of such a reference.
It is proposed that the reference to the Christian roots of Europe be included in the Preamble of the Constitution. The Preamble is a declaration – "a preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document that serves to explain its purpose" (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition).
The purpose of the Constitution is to set out the values and objectives of the EU and the means required for the Union to pursue such values and objectives. Values do not arise out of nothing. Christianity has shaped many, if not all of the values of the EU contained in the draft Constitution such as human dignity, the rule of law and respect for human rights, to a great degree. What is wrong in recognising this in the Preamble together with recognition, already included in the draft, to humanism as the other great and noble source of values in Europe?
Certainly in this manner one would be rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is of God!