By BRITISH HUMANIST ASSOCIATION
Added: Mon, 19 Feb 2007 00:00:00 UTC

Thanks to George Hyde for the notification.

Here is a message from The British Humanist Association:
http://www.humanism.org.uk

Help us defend Europe's secular values from a powerful new threat!

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, with the help of the churches, is reviving the European constitution - with God included.

After a meeting with the Pope, Merkel said "we need a European identity in the form of a constitutional treaty and I think it should be connected to Christianity and God, as Christianity has forged Europe in a decisive way." She is planning a "Berlin Declaration", claiming that Europe is based on Christian values.

But the International Humanist and Ethical Union, European Humanist Federation and Catholics for Free Choice are fighting back with an alternative "Brussels Declaration".

And you can help.

David Pollock, BHA trustee and President of the European Humanist Federation, who is closely involved in this important initiative to defend Europe's secular values explains:

The Treaty of Rome - the foundation of the European Union - was signed 50 years ago on 25 March 1957. The anniversary is the background for a major confrontation between those who see Europe as essentially based on Christian values and those who support a secular Europe based on our shared values. The confrontation is encapsulated in plans for two very different Declarations proclaiming different values.

A Christian Europe?

The anniversary is stimulating concerted efforts by the Vatican and other churches in alliance with politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who holds the current six-month presidency of the EU, to revive the project for a European constitution - with God included.

After a visit in August to Pope Benedict XVI Merkel said, "we need a European identity in the form of a constitutional treaty and I think it should be connected to Christianity and God, as Christianity has forged Europe in a decisive way."

She is planning a "Berlin Declaration", a statement of principles to underlie a new European constitution. EU heads of government have naturally been asked to contribute - but so have the churches: Germany's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told an assembly of church leaders on 15 January: "Churches have a specific role in the European integration process. . . Churches [are] important partners . . .in discussions on common European values and the future of the European integration process." According to a press release from COMECE, the conference of European Roman Catholic bishops: "Steinmeier highlighted [the churches' role] in respect to the Berlin Declaration."

Incredibly, Steinmeier has warned MEPs not to get involved. According to the EU Observer he told the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee on 23 January that MEPs will not have any major role in the EU's constitution revival project. He warned them not to try to overshadow Berlin's efforts to revive the EU charter, saying "there is no point if the professionals in Europe are competing with one another for the welfare of Europe's citizens".

The churches - not least in the UK - have recently been attacking "secularism" at the least opportunity, defending their privileges as they lose members. They would welcome an EU constitution that embeds yet more privilege on top of the ready access to the Commission they already enjoy.

But a constitution that highlights Europe's supposed Judaeo-Christian heritage will only serve to exacerbate cultural differences. Here and elsewhere there are loud demands from religious minorities to codify cultural differences into family law - even to accept Shari'ah law for Muslims. (A recent survey by NOP showed that some 30% of British Muslims would prefer to live under Shari'ah Law. Among young Muslims the percentage was even higher.)

The fight back

Angela Merkel with her Berlin Declaration, must and will be answered by a counter-proclamation of the shared, secular values of the Enlightenment that we take for granted at our peril. Secularism, with its guarantee of state neutrality in this disputed area, is the only guarantee of freedom of religion or belief for all: privileging of one group necessarily means disadvantaging the rest.

A group under the leadership of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, the European Humanist Federation, and the ultra-liberal Catholic group Catholics for a Free Choice have accordingly drafted a rival Secular Vision for Europe.

The centrepiece of the Vision is the "Brussels Declaration", a one-page restatement of our common values, the liberal values of individual freedom, democracy and the rule of law on which modern European civilisation is based. They are not the values of any single culture or tradition but are our shared values, the values that enable Europeans of all backgrounds, cultures and traditions to live together in peace and harmony.

The Brussels Declaration is the outcome of an unprecedented Europe-wide collaboration between humanists, Christians and Muslims, academics, politicians, writers, community leaders and both secular and religious non-governmental organisations.

It has already been endorsed by hundreds of European leaders - politicians, leading academics, commentators - of many different beliefs, and more are signing it every day, as I well know in my role as the co-ordinator for the UK of a team recruiting signatories. Several eminent academics have turned into recruiters themselves, e-mailing a dozen or more colleagues across the continent to recommend it.

Here it is:-

The Brussels Declaration

We, the people of Europe, hereby affirm our common values. They are based not on a single culture or tradition but are founded in all of the cultures that make up modern Europe.

We affirm the worth, dignity and autonomy of every individual, and the right of everyone to the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others. We support democracy and human rights and aim at the fullest possible development of every human being.

We recognise our duty of care to all of humanity including future generations, and our dependence on and responsibility for the natural world.

We affirm the equality of men and women. All persons regardless of race, origin, religion or belief, language, gender, sexual orientation or ability must have equal treatment before the law.

We affirm the right of everyone to adopt and follow a religion or belief of their choosing. But the beliefs of any group may not be used to limit the rights of others.

We hold that the state must remain neutral in matters of religion and belief, favouring none and discriminating against none.

We hold that personal liberty must be combined with social responsibility. We seek to create a fair society based on reason and compassion, in which every citizen is enabled to play their full part.

We uphold both tolerance and freedom of expression.

We affirm the right of everyone to open and comprehensive education.

We reject intimidation, violence and incitement to violence in the furtherance of disputes, and hold that conflicts must be resolved through negotiation and by legal means.

We uphold freedom of inquiry in every sphere of human life, and the application of science in the service of human welfare. We seek to use science creatively, not destructively.

We uphold artistic freedom, value creativity and imagination, and recognise the transforming power of art. We affirm the importance of literature, music, and the visual and performing arts for personal development and fulfilment.

Made this 25th day of March 2007, being the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the foundation of the European Union.

We need your support

You can read the document "A Secular Vision for Europe" at http://www.vision4europe.org - and I recommend you to do so (but note that signatories of the Brussels Declaration do not necessarily endorse the details of the Vision paper). It is an inspiring document, profoundly humanist but appealing to people of a wide range of beliefs so long as they share the liberal values of the Enlightenment and are willing to live together in a community with shared institutions.

The Brussels Declaration will be launched to the press in Brussels on 27 February at the European Parliament alongside a meeting of the All Party Group for Separation of Religion and Politics. The full current list of signatories will be published then, but meantime let me mention some of the warm expressions of support I have received.

Marina Warner, the novelist, critic and historian, wrote: "I am really happy to give this letter my support" and Philip Pullman echoed her: "I'm very happy to support this". Sir Bernard Crick called it "a very fine text", while Cambridge Professor of Philosophy (and member of the Humanist Philosophers' Group) Simon Blackburn signed up "with enthusiasm and gratitude. Exactly what is needed. I could think of quibbles but they are irrelevant, and the overall message is far more important. What a splendid initiative."

The breadth of appeal of the Declaration, which has won support from prominent Christians and Muslims, is evident from this message from Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, who is a Roman Catholic: "I share all your concerns about the road we could be travelling down. I have had serious concerns about the erosion of the secular space and as a human rights lawyer think it is important to assert values which can be shared by all and not claimed as Christian."

At present we are collecting support from well known public figures, but after the press launch of the Declaration, it will be open for 'signature' by all European citizens. I hope BHA members and supporters by the thousand will take the opportunity to send a message to EU leaders.

Meantime, please write to your MP and MEPs asking them to support the Declaration: send them the text above and refer them to the website http://www.vision4europe.org where the full background is set out an email address given for them to tell us of their support.

TAGGED: POLITICS, RELIGION

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