.- Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl said this week the Christian roots of Europe “must not be forgotten.” “It is unacceptable that the European Constitution, as opposed to the constitutions of the different German states and of Germany’s federal constitution, includes no reference to God.” Kohl made his comments during a series of conferences organized by Bishop Gerhard Ludwig of Ratisbon. Bishop Ludwig invited the former “Chancellor of unity,” as he is known, to open the series with a conference on “The Order of European Values and the Unity of Europe.” During his presentation, Kohl spoke of the responsibility Christians have in society and in the development of the European Union. He expressed regret at the decreasing number of Christians on the continent, but he said the expansion of Europe towards the east was a positive sign that would bring new possibilities to Europeans.
Some 1000 people were in attendance at the first in the series of conferences, including the retired Auxiliary Bishop of Ratisbon, Vinzenz Guggenberger, Bishop Frantisek Radkowsky of the neighboring diocese of Pilsen, and Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis.
