Christian Leaders Press Again For Religious References In EU Constitution

Reuters reported this week that as Germany is attempting to revive efforts to get agreement on a Constitution for the European Union, Catholic and Protestant leaders are stepping up their campaign to have a reference to Europe's Christian heritage included in the document. A 2004 draft included a reference to the continent's "cultural, religious and humanist heritage". Christian religious leaders however are urging German Chancellor Angela Merkel -- a pastor's daughter -- to press for a stronger statement during her current term as EU president. However religious leaders are unlikely to be successful since the EU is currently negotiating with largely Muslim Turkey for its entry into the EU. (See prior related posting.)