As voters across Europe prepare to elect a new European Parliament, bishops have urged continued support for the European Union against a current wave of discontent.
Yet some Catholic leaders are warning the EU’s established practices could face a serious challenge from new radical parties following the May 23-26 ballot.
“The Church has always viewed European unification positively, but it’s generally favoured a ‘Europe of homelands’, rather than a federal project”, said Mgr Piotr Mazurkiewicz, former secretary-general of Comece, the Brussels-based commission of EU bishops’ conferences. “It’s also long been concerned that the EU doesn’t step outside its competence by trying to impose decisions on ethical issues such as religious freedom and the defence of life.”
