D66
Werkgroep Scheiding Kerk en Staat wil opheldering van voorzitter EP
13 april 2007, 12:11
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In ´t Veld (D66): "Het EP is niet de Sint-Pieter" -
Onder leiding van D66-europarlementariër Sophie in ´t Veld heeft de
Werkgroep Scheiding Kerk en Staat van het Europees Parlement de
EP-voorzitter Poettering uitgenodigd om op 5 juni uitleg te geven over
zijn uitnodiging aan de paus om het EP plenair toe te spreken.
Voorzitter van de werkgroep Sophie In ´t Veld: "Onze werkgroep dringt
al jaren aan op meer transparantie in de relaties tussen de Europese
instellingen en kerken, met name het Vaticaan. De drie leiders van de
EU-instellingen, Poettering, Barroso en Merkel, zijn alledrie wel heel
erg close met de Paus. De dialoog met religies is prima, maar dan wel
met alle religieuze en andere levensbeschouwelijke organisaties. Zo
zou hij in ieder geval ook de Humanisten moeten uitnodigen."
"Het Europees Parlement kan een rol spelen in die dialoog, maar het EP
hoeft geen podium te verschaffen aan de leider van een specifieke
godsdienst. Vooral niet als die leider standpunten heeft over vrouwen
en homo's die niet stroken met de doelstellingen van de EU. Het
Europees Parlement is niet de Sint-Pieter in Rome."
Hieronder vindt u de brief aan Poettering
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Brussels, 10 April 2007
Hans-Gert Pöttering
President of the European Parliament
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60
PHS 11B014
1047 Brussels
Dear Mr Pöttering,
We were informed that you have invited Pope Benedict XVI to address
the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasburg. On behalf
of the EP Working Group
for the Separation of Religion and Politics, we would like to express
our regret over this decision.
Freedom of religion is one of the fundamental rights of the European
Union. In addition, churches, religious communities and
non-confessional philosophical groupings contribute greatly to the
public debate and to shaping our European community of values.
The European Union as a political body has never had a religious past:
it never drew its authority from the idea of its divine foundation
unlike European Member States might have done in the past. It is a
very young reality that resulted from the will of political leaders to
make war and totalitarianism impossible in the future, ensuring peace
and freedom for European citizens by founding a community based on
universal principles and rights. Consequently this institutional
reality took the form of a secular social contract based on political
and ideological pluralism.
The European Constitution would for the first time establish a formal
dialogue with churches and non-confessional organisations. Article 52
stipulates that dialogue should be open, regular and transparent. A
monologue by the head of one specific religion, who also happens to be
head of a foreign state, hardly qualifies as an open, regular and
transparent dialogue.
Therefore, a dialogue with these groupings must take place in the
framework of the dialogue with civil society, on the basis of
transparency and equality, reflecting Europes diversity. Instead of
favouring one single religion, the European Parliament should
facilitate a regular broad dialogue with all churches, religious and
non-confessional organisations. In order to redress the balance, we
suggest the leaders of other religions, as well as the European
Humanists will equally be invited to address the plenary session.
The European Union has always favoured a clear separation of church
and state, and promoted religious freedom, for example in the talks
with Turkey. Moreover, in the public debate on integration, the
secular nature of our European society is stressed time and again.
Indeed, strict neutrality of public bodies is the very guarantee of
religious freedom. The European Parliament should follow those
principles as well.
The EP Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics is looking
forward to your proposals to shape the dialogue with religious as well
as non-confessional organisations within the European Parliament. We
would be pleased and honoured to invite you to meet with the Working
Group for an exchange of views.
With kind regards,
Sophie in 't Veld
Chair EP Working Group on Separation of Religion and Politics
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