European bishops’ body urges voters to support European Union
March 20, 2014
The Catholic bishops of the European Union nations have issued a statement strongly encouraging participation in voting for the European Parliament.
“It is essential that EU citizens participate in the democratic process through casting their vote on polling day,” said the statement, released by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE). The voting will take place from May 22 to 25.
The COMECE statement said that “the European project is inspired by a noble view of mankind.”
In their statement the bishops said that European lawmakers should address “the collateral damage of the banking and economic crises which began in 2008.” Addressing other specific issues, the COMECE statement called for attention to the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity; humane treatment for migrants; a reduction of CO2 emissions; and sustainable development. Finally the bishops called for respect for religious freedom, welcoming new EU guidelines for protection of religion.
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Posted by: thomas.friel9910 -
Mar. 21, 2014 5:30 PM ET USA
Makes one wonder if these bishops have lost the run of themselves? They must believe that faithful catholics have short memories.The E.U. is a wholly anti-God and anti-Christian construct.It ignored/rejected the modest request by the late Pope John Paul2 to include some reference to Europe's Christian past in a preamble to it's constitution.The E.U.court of ''Human Rights''?? has an agenda which pushes unrestricted abortion''rights''together with same sex unions as we know to our cost in Irelan
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Mar. 21, 2014 1:34 PM ET USA
I'll be going to the polls in May to vote - for the UKIP, the United Kingdom Independence Party, which advocates the secession of Britain from the EU. The EU is destroying the Christian culture of my country because it is based on socialism and the promulgation of values that are totally opposed to the moral stance of the Catholic Church. No Catholic can possibly support such a secular hegemony and still regard himself as a Catholic. Don't listen to these heterodox 'bishops'!
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Posted by: Defender -
Mar. 21, 2014 12:59 PM ET USA
Reminds one of the USCCB, doesn't it? The EU is, like Congress and the UN, responsible for the demise of morals throughout Europe in the name of human rights.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Mar. 21, 2014 9:50 AM ET USA
Participate? Why? Is this any real business of the bishops? Considering the current state of most of their dioceses, they have bigger fish to fry.
