European bishops lamenet continent’s demographic crisis, materialism, relativism

October 07, 2009

Two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences has issued a statement critiquing current continental trends.

“The development of the European Union has gone hand in hand with a growth in consumption, at least for some people,” the bishops note. “The mere constant acquisition of goods will never fill people’s hearts.”

The bishops add:

Present society wishes to give to the individual every possible opportunity to exercise individual choice and to seek personal fulfilment. In doing so it risks simply locking the individual into the defence of self-interest or acquired benefits …

A pluralistic society often risks being tempted by relativism, and particularly by ethical relativism. Each person sets their own norms and claims their own rights. Social life can only rest on common rules, on a vision of humanity that does not change according to shifting lobbies or opinion polls. A number of legislative developments in our countries and in the European institutions are of concern to us as they go against authentic good. We are aware therefore of the urgency to match juridical norms with natural law - which is based in human dignity and thereby determines the inalienable rights and duties of every person. These norms should be characterized by dialogue, respect for freedom and a sincere quest for the truth.

The crisis sweeping Europe today is serious. Low birth rates and the future of its demography do not lead to optimism. However, we do not intend to be prophets of doom. Things are not necessarily doomed to get worse! Our faith calls us turn our attention to the European society in which we live, and to gaze on it with hope.

 

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Further information:

• Europe, Be Confident (CCEE)