Airstrip One

The Role of Religion in the European Constitution - 23rd November 2002, 21.25

The constitution of the European Peoples Party included a reference to the religious heritage of Europe in their proposal. At first, this appeared to be a confessional clause that the Christian Democrat element had insisted upon to appease their own Catholic and protestant constituencies.

Radio Free Europe has reported that Giscard D'Estaing visited Pope John Paul II a few weeks ago and responded sceptically to the Pope's insistence in a speech to the Italian Parliament that the Constitution should recognise Europe's religious heritage. This is understandable given French loyalty to the separation of church and state.

If this clause is adopted, it will demonstrate another vital difference between the commanding heights of constitutional practice (the United States), taking its cue from the Enlightenment, and constructing a constitution via committee in that unworthy plagiarist, the European Convention.