Pregledni rad
Ecumenism in European Union. Catholic point of view
Antun Čečatka
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu Sveučilišta J. J. Strossmayera u Osijeku
Sažetak
The integration of the European states and nations into the European Union is still an undergoing process. All the high authorities of the Catholic Church and other Churches claim that Christianity provides the appropriate historical and spiritual underlying concept and the basis suitable for the sound social and political union. This is the reason why the Church is so determined in its request for the specific reference of the Christian heritage in the European Constitution Charter. The European culture, science and morality are based on Christian heritage which has, to some extent, provided the foundation for the modern European conception of democracy, equality and integral dignity of all human beings, for human rights, protection of minorities, social justice, peace and protection of everything created. It is even hard to imagine these values without their obvious Christian roots. Due to the fact that Christianity has been imbued among many nations by Europeans, Europe can be perceived as a theological grandeur. Moreover, Europe has played an important historical role in transmitting the Christian message
throughout the world - the message that became known in Israel. The fact is that Christian faith is nowadays weakened by secularisation and modern atheism. It has been privatised and is not perceived as a significant power in public. All Christians are therefore called to breathe life into the Christian heritage and Christian values at the overall European and cultural levels. To accomplish this, all the Christian Churches are to carry out the new evangelisation acting together in good will and with proper arguments. European Christians can effectively contribute to the European unity and pave the way to the noticeable unification of the Church only by using a proper ecumenical approach.
Ključne riječi
European Union; Christian heritage; secularisation; values; evangelisation; ecumenical dialogue; Christian union service system; unity of the Church
Hrčak ID:
36285
URI
Datum izdavanja:
29.1.2009.
Posjeta: 2.136 *