France says no to Christianity in Constitution

EUObserver ^ | 09.14.2003 | Marcin Frydrych

[nickcarraway]

Despite strong lobbying from the Vatican and representatives of the Orthodox Church in Europe, the preamble of the draft treaty establishing the Constitution for Europe - produced by the European Convention in June - has resisted any reference to Christianity.

France along with Turkey are the main countries contending such a reference.

"France is a lay state and as such she does not have a habit of calling for insertions of a religious nature into constitutional texts", the French President told reporters at a visit in Quintos de Moro where he met Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar.

"The lay character of French institutions does not allow them to accept a religious reference" in a domestic or EU constitution, Mr Chirac concluded.

Several countries, Italy, Spain and Poland among them, have backed the idea of having a reference to Christianity included in the Constitution.

Warsaw intends to raise this issue in its four-point strategy for the Intergovernmental Conference which begins next month in Rome.

[nickcarraway]

France is a lay state

Interesting, considering they own all the churches, and the Church can only use such churches by permission.

[Wormwood]

How many years before sharia law is slipped in?

[Paul Atreides]

Next year.

[nickcarraway]

Probably already in the ``secret constitution.''

[sal002a]

Finally...Chirac acting like the conservative he is...

[nwrep]

France is a lay state

Wrong! France is a gay state.

[concerned about politics]

Some people say the rise of a liberal extremist world leader from the EU is impossable.
They say a man, a liar but good spinner, especially a man who appoints himself a leader without being elected, sort of like Clinton in the EU, could never outlaw religion. He could never get the people in Europe to follow him by his speeches alone.
They say he could never force the masseses to accept a computer chip in their right hand or forehead to share the wealth and create a false peace in the world.
They say a man cannot be considered a messiah by his followers. He's just a man.
They say a book that tells of this man- an old fiction novel, a mythical story, and the rise of a man such as this- an anti-Christ type leader, could never happen.
They tell us not to believe it. They say just follow them. They say there is nothing to be concerned about.

[Bogey78O]

France is a country that thinks it's religious enough.

That makes Jesus angry and when Jesus get's angry...

[Genesis defender]

I wonder how French textbooks treat Charles Martel. They probably criticize him for stopping the spread of such a "peaceful" religion.

[TheBattman]

"France is a lay state"

No - France is a profiteering, athiest/muslim (satanic) state that never saw a dictator they didn't want to surrender to - especially if it meant a nice profit for them.

I can see why Turkey would have some objections to Christianity being included in the European charter, as they are predominantly Muslim. Unfortunately, France will soon be majority Muslim as well - at least those who are not athiests.

[sal002a]

"liberal extremist" from Europe?

It would take a liberal extermist to be elected somewhere in Europe. The most "liberal" leader is Schroeder, and his power is extremely limited (and will probably lose next election). Next is Blair - and he is not exactly a liberal.

I would say an EU leader would be a conservative, since the powerful countries in Europe now (France, Italy and soon Germany) have conservative leaders.

[Wings-n-Wind]

This may prove the unraveling of the EU... Italy in particular, and Spain and Poland in all likelihood will politely insist... and will not "fold" on this issue.

Humble opinion....

[concerned about politics]

It would take a liberal extermist to be elected somewhere in Europe

Nah. He's like a Hitler, but worse. He won't be elected. He'll be a decieving speeker, a self appointed king. Many will follow his words. He'll lead simply by giving speeches, and people will follow him, and demand their government listen to him.

[Noachian]

Why don't they just follow the American Constitution and insert a clause that reads: Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or the free exercise thereof. Then they just let everyone practice whatever religion they want and the government stays out of it.

That clause worked perfectly here in America until the Supreme Court's bias against religion turned the High Court into an advocate for secularism.

[Bogey78O]

Chirac is not a conservatie unless you weight it against the rest of the country of France.

[RoseofTexas]

HA! Now it makes sense why the evvvvvvvilll frogs are frying over there! DON'T MESS WITH GOD! ;)

[concerned about politics]

HA! Now it makes sense why the evvvvvvvilll frogs are frying over there! DON'T MESS WITH GOD! ;)

He's sending them a revelation of their future. Right now, he's just being kind. The universal thermostat isn't even turned up yet.

[sal002a]

Chirac is not a social conservative - but is very much an economic one.