Europe today : new perspectives for a Christian commitment

Abstract

The 1990s are moments of change for Europe, Europe is at the cross-roads. Something old is coming to an end and something new is being born. Europe is on the way to unity. What kind of unity? A European fortress or European home? Will this be a Europe for justice or simply the strongest economic power which is interested only in its own profit and its own security? Will it develop into a new political, economic, profit-seeking super-power, or into a more human Europe? Will there be pride or penitence at the festivities of the so-called "discovery" of America (1492)? What about the developments in eastern Europe... the fall of communism... the growth of nationalism? What is the role of the Church going to be? What is the calling of the Christian? What signs of the time is the Church invited to read? What form of evangelisation is necessary today? No doubt all will agree with the fact that Europe has been heavily influenced by the Church in the past. John Paul II was quoted as saying in Strasbourg, "Christianity has profoundly marked the civilisation of the Old Continent and over a period of close to 2,000 years, forged a concept of the world and of man which is considered fundamental today." Hillaire Belloc went as far as equating Europe with the faith, as saying "Europe is the faith and the faith is Europe." In fact whenever any evangelisation took place in the newly discovered continents, the European culture was exported with the faith as it was inconceivable to be Christian without having a European mentality.