On December 4, 2024, the European Parliament hosted the twenty seventh version of the European Prayer Breakfast, the place the Fee of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) made a compelling case for the appointment of an EU Coordinator devoted to combating anti-Christian hatred. The convention, themed “Safeguarding Spiritual Freedom in Europe – Present Challenges and Future Prospects,” underscored the urgency of addressing rising anti-Christian sentiments throughout Europe.
Alessandro Calcagno, COMECE’s adviser on elementary rights and Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), articulated the urgent want for equal safety of non secular freedoms, emphasizing that every one dimensions of this elementary proper needs to be safeguarded. “Freedom of faith is just too usually seen as a ‘problematic’ proper,” Calcagno remarked. He burdened that the collective dimension of non secular freedom should be prioritized alongside particular person rights, warning in opposition to the hazards of lowering tolerance to a mere substitute for real safety.
Calcagno highlighted the continuing challenges confronted by spiritual communities, notably relating to the visibility of non secular symbols and expressions. He asserted that so long as these expressions are seen as probably offensive or coercive, true freedom of faith stays unattainable. The convention emphasised the significance of mainstreaming spiritual freedom protections in EU insurance policies, together with the safeguarding of locations of worship and knowledge safety measures.
A pivotal second got here when Calcagno known as for the institution of an EU Coordinator particularly to fight anti-Christian hatred, reinforcing that this isn’t about making a hierarchy of victimhood however guaranteeing equitable entry to protecting measures. “The time is mature for this step,” he acknowledged, acknowledging the present coordinators for Jewish and Muslim communities whereas advocating for related assist for Christians.
The dialogue additionally touched on the very important position of non secular literacy in fostering understanding and respect amongst totally different faiths. Calcagno urged public authorities and establishments to interact with spiritual schooling to develop knowledgeable insurance policies that successfully handle discrimination primarily based on faith.
The convention concluded with a name to motion, urging policymakers to leverage Article 17.3 of the TFEU to translate discussions into concrete coverage initiatives relatively than remaining on the degree of summary rules. The occasion was moderated by MEP Paulius Saudargas from Lithuania and featured outstanding audio system, together with Dr. Katharina von Schnurbein, the EU Coordinator on combating antisemitism, and Anja Hoffmann, Government Director of The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination in opposition to Christians in Europe.
Because the European Prayer Breakfast drew to a detailed, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, President of COMECE, supplied a prayer, invoking blessings for the individuals and the very important work forward in safeguarding spiritual freedom throughout Europe. The decision for an EU Coordinator to fight anti-Christian hatred indicators a major step in direction of guaranteeing that every one spiritual communities in Europe obtain the safety and respect they deserve.