European bishops urge EEC voters to think Christian

Voters in the European elections on June 7 should look beyond political_issues and apply Christian principles according to the leaders of European Conferences of Bishops. In a message to electors of the new European Parliament, just published the Bishops said: "We could never be satisfied with a Europe founded exclusively on the economic or political interests of its members."
The Bishops repeated the hopes of the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences when they urged Christians in 1977 to build the future Europe on sound fundamental values. Although the desire for unity was laudable in itself, there was a danger that Europe could fail in its duties to poorer nations.
It would be a scandal if Europeans continued in wealth while a large portion of the world still went hungry, Man has a higher goal than the encouragement of economic and cultural exchange, the document said. Man is created in the image of God and carries spiritual values within himself. These must be shown in tomorrow's Europe.
The countries of Euorpe should
by Christopher Howse
share their wealth. Even so, the present economic crisis and particularly unemployment suggested that we are being drawn whether we like it or not to a more sober way of life. The Gospel demanded simplicity not the lifestyle of the 'consumer society'.
Human rights, too, had to be respected in Europe and throughout the world. The inalienable rights of man have recently been restated in Pope John Paul II's Encyclical 'Redemptor Hominis'. These include the right to life, the rights of the child before and after birth, women's rights, the rights of the family, of workers and of refugees. Every person must be able to live in dignity.
A Europe based on these values can only be constructed by local groups of men and women who have hope in man redeemed by Jesus Christ. Before they vote, Catholics should understand what is at stake. The Bishops conclude: "We also ask them to pray that God will bless the new European Parliament."