EUROPEAN IDENTITY IN DANGER
NATALIA BEDNARSKA
The symbol of Mary’s stars on the flag, created by Arsene Heitz, was forgotten. The inspiration for the cartoonist was a known motif in Christian art, presenting a wreath of stars above the head of Mary the Virgin, being a reference to the Woman clothed with the sun from the Apocalypse of St. John. At present it is said that twelve stars mean a Babylon symbol of freedom. European identity has Christian roots, but today’s decision-makers do not see the truth and the EU legislation is going in the direction of secularism and atheism of Europe. The ‘Europa Christi’ movement wants to show Europe that there are hundred million Christians on the Old Continent and, at the time of the inflow of Muslim immigrants from Near East and Africa, the crusade in defence of the cross in Europe must be effective.
Considering the necessity of returning to building Europe on the fundaments of the Gospel, the moderator of the ‘Europa Christi’ movement Fr. PhD. Ireneusz Skubiś and representatives of European Conservatists and Reformers: a Euro-deputy prof. Mirosław Piotrowski, an Euro-deputy Waldemar Tomaszewski, and an Euro-deputy PhD. Urszula Krupa with speakers: Fr. PhD. Jarosław Krzewicki, a publicist Włodzimierz Rędzioch, PhD. Bogusław Rogalski, a director Mariusz Księżek, Fr. PhD. Assoc. Mirosław Sitarz organized a conference in the European Parliament in Brussels, entitled: ‘Open the door to Christ’.
‘Christian roots are like food and oxygen for Europe’ – these words, said six years ago by pope Benedict XVI, were reminded by the Euro-deputy Piotrowski and he explained that Europe needs a great reform. He added: - We know that it is many years since the European Union has been experiencing a crisis – both in the sphere of its identity and function. It is our responsibility for social and political activity. We want to listen to opinions of priests and laymen, too.
Real Europe is ‘Europa Christi’ – Europe of Christ – emphasized Fr. Skubiś. – I would like Christ to return to Europe so that He would receive a passport to it, because this passport belongs to him. And today Christ is not allowed to enter Europe – we must realize it.
An example of Christians’ participation in the political life is Lithuania which was mentioned during the conference by the Euro-deputy Tomaszewski. He noted how important it is to take care of Christian values also in the political life, similarly as appointing people for responsible posts, thinking that they should be strong in their faith. – And we are doing it in Lithuania. We managed to do it – he emphasized.
The director Mariusz Książek touched on the issue of the ‘Reference to Christianity in the Charter of basic rights of the European Union’. The Charter of the basic rights is a signal that beside economic issues, Europe also sees the necessity of defining basic values.
The conference of the ‘Europa Christi’ movement raised interest of an Euro-deputy Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. In his statement he noted that today we need brave politicians who want to bring back the work of fathers the founders of the European community. This is very important especially that – as he noted – today’s Europe was kidnapped by liberal-leftist ideologies.- We have a crisis of values, about which many people agree. We can overcome this crisis only when we return to the roots, that is, to Christianity and to Christian culture – he emphasized. The main mission of the ‘Europa Christi’ movement is care about Europe so that it would return to Christian culture with its citizens. ‘If God’s Son is in the first place, everything is in the right place’. During the conference ‘Open the door to Christ’ a very clear voice was heard that the European Union does not have the future without Christian values. Standing on the guard of these values is a serious challenge and task for the inhabitants of the Old Continent today.
The medial patron on this conference of the ‘Europa Chrsiti’ movement in the European Parliament was ‘Niedziela’ (‘Sunday’).
Translated by Aneta Amrozik
Niedziela 21/2018 (27 V 2018)