Madam, - The preamble to the draft Constitution for Europe says: "Drawing inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe, the values of which, still present in its heritage, have embedded within the life of society the central role of the human person and his or her inviolable rights, and respect for law, etc."
And the preamble to Part II: The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Union, says: "Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity, etc"
While Christianity is not specifically mentioned, it is centrally encompassed, as are all the religions and philosophies of the people of the Union, and of those with a blend of both religion and philosophy. The draft constitution is a sufficient statement of the rights of Christianity in the EU.
When the Catholic Church was given pre-eminence in the 1937 Irish Constitution it led to runaway power for the Catholic Church, which led to many cruel and shameful consequences.
Christians live in spirit and in truth, they do not need flag-waving, nor princes of the Church, nor crusading tanks. It is not by declarations, but by their fruits will you know them. - Yours, etc.,
JIM COOKE, Marley Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.