Rome, Italy, Jun 23, 2004 / 22:00 pm
In an interview published by the Italian newspaper Avvenire, Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna lamented the omission of any reference to Christianity in the new European constitution, saying, “Europe cannot be understood if the Christian roots of its culture and traditions are severed.”
According to the cardinal, “The recognition of the Christian roots of the continent is a truth so evident that it should not be that difficult to acknowledge.”
“Why do tourists come here from all over the world? Are not the monasteries and cathedrals their favorite places to visit? The stubborn opposition to the recognition of Christianity is fostered by certain trends of Western secularism,” the cardinal said.
It needs to clear, he added, “that the Church has no interest in politics or power in referring to the Christian roots of the continent.”