US embassy cable - 02VATICAN5753

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 005753 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EUR/SE; EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PINS, EU, PGOV, PREL, PINS, EU, PGOV, PREL, PINS, EU, PGOV, VT, VTPHUM, VTPHUM 
SUBJECT: THE HOLY SEE AND THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION: 
 
 
COUNTERING SECULARISM, NOT TURKEY'S EUROPEAN AMBITIONS 
 
REF: A) VATICAN 0180, B) PARIS 8042 
 
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SUMMARY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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1.   (SBU) ALTHOUGH THE HOLY SEE IS PRESSING HARD FOR THE 
EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTINENT'S CHRISTIAN 
HERITAGE, THIS DRIVE IS IN NO WAY INTENDED TO SUGGEST HOLY 
SEE OPPOSITION TO TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP.  ON THE CONTRARY, 
THIS EFFORT PREDATES THE CURRENT DEBATE OVER TURKEY, AND THE 
HOLY SEE SPECIFICALLY FAVORS CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE THAT 
WOULD ENSURE FREEDOM OF WORSHIP TO ALL FAITHS.  IN PUSHING 
FOR A "CHRISTIAN HERITAGE" REFERENCE AND OTHER PROVISIONS 
RELATING TO RELIGION, THE HOLY SEE IS SEEKING A FOUNDATION 
ON WHICH TO COUNTER THE INCREASINGLY DOMINANT SECULARISM 
WITHIN EUROPE AND TO REINVIGORATE THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN 
EUROPEAN CULTURE.  THE HOLY SEE IN NO WAY SEEKS TO EXCLUDE 
OTHER FAITHS OR PHILOSOPHIES, AND HAS TOLD US DIRECTLY THEY 
HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH A PREDOMINANTLY ISLAMIC STATE SUCH AS 
TURKEY BEING A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION -- A DECISION IN 
WHICH THEY HAVE NO DIRECT ROLE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------- 
EUROPE'S CHRISTIAN ROOTS IN ARID SOIL 
------------------------------------- 
 
2. (U) THE HOLY SEE IS PRESSING EUROPEANS HARD TO ENSURE 
THAT THE PROPOSED EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION INCLUDES A REFERENCE 
TO THE CONTINENT'S CHRISTIAN HERITAGE, WHILE AT THE SAME 
TIME MAKING CLEAR THAT JURIDICAL PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE TO 
PROTECT ALL RELIGIOUS FAITHS.  FROM THE POPE ON DOWN, THE 
HOLY SEE HAS BEEN LOBBYING EUROPEAN POLICY MAKERS ACTIVELY 
IN RECENT MONTHS.  ACCORDING TO THE POPE, "CHRISTIANITY IS A 
CENTRAL AND INHERENT ELEMENT" OF THE EUROPEAN IDENTITY, AND 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  05753  01 OF 03  271518Z 
"THE CHRISTIAN FAITH FORMED THE CULTURE OF THE CONTINENT." 
FRAMING THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE HOLY SEE'S CURRENT FOCUS 
ON THE EU CONSTITUTION, THE POPE TOLD THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS 
IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS LAST JANUARY (REF A) THAT "THE 
MARGINALIZATION OF RELIGIONS, WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED AND 
CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE AND HUMANITY OF WHICH 
EUROPE IS LEGITIMATELY PROUD, STRIKES ME BOTH AS AN 
INJUSTICE AND AN ERROR IN PERSPECTIVE."  REFERRING TO THE 
HOLY SEE'S DESIRE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION, HE ADDED: 
"TO RECOGNIZE AN INDISPUTABLE HISTORICAL FACT IN NO WAY 
MEANS TO DISREGARD THE MODERN DEMAND OF STATES TO HAVE AN 
APPROPRIATE NON-CONFESSIONAL CHARACTER." 
 
3. (U) THIS FALL, THE HOLY SEE HAS INTENSIFIED ITS OUTREACH 
TO EU COUNTRIES WHEN IT CALLED IN ALL EUROPEAN AMBASSADORS 
TO OUTLINE ITS PRIORITIES FOR THE FINAL CONSTITUTION.  THESE 
PRIORITIES ENCOMPASS REFERENCES TO FIVE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES: 
CENTRALITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, 
SOLIDARITY (THE SEARCH FOR THE COMMON GOOD), SUBSIDIARITY 
AND PARTICIPATION, AND THE SHARING OF RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN 
THE CHURCHES AND THE EU. 
 
4. (U) IN ADDITION, THE HOLY SEE IS ALSO SEEKING JURIDICAL 
RECOGNITION OF THE CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES WITHIN 
THE CONSTITUTION.  THEY NOTE THAT RELIGION, CHURCHES, AND 
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY EU LEGISLATION 
FOR DECADES, BUT THAT THERE ARE NO REFERENCES TO RELIGIONS 
IN THE TREATY PROVISIONS OR ANNEXED PROTOCOLS.  THEY POINT 
OUT THAT ISSUES SUCH AS NON-DISCRIMINATION, LABOR LAW, DATA 
PROTECTION, CULTURE, MEDIA LAW, CUSTOMS, FINANCES AND OTHER 
AREAS ALL IMPACT ON THE CHURCH, AND THAT THE ABSENCE OF 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  05753  01 OF 03  271518Z 
JURIDICAL REFERENCES TO THEM WOULD CONSTITUTE A SERIOUS 
VACUUM.  CONSEQUENTLY, THE HOLY SEE IS SEEKING THROUGH THE 
COMMISSION OF EPISCOPATES OF THE EU A PROVISION ASSURING THE 
RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION OF CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS 
COMMUNITIES IN THEIR TEACHING AND ORGANIZATION.  THEY DO NOT 
BELIEVE THAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OR CORPORATIVE SELF- 
DETERMINATION IS GUARANTEED BY ARTICLE 10 OF THE CHARTER OF 
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EU OR ARTICLE 9 OF THE EUROPEAN 
CONVENTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.  FINALLY, THE HOLY SEE WOULD 
LIKE TO INCLUDE A PROVISION FOR CIVIL SOCIETY DIALOGUE AND 
CONSULTATION SPECIFICALLY RELATING TO THE ROLE OF CHURCHES 
AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. 
 
5. (U) HAVING OUTLINED ITS GOALS, THE POPE HAS USED EVERY 
OPPORTUNITY THIS FALL TO PRESS HIS CASE.  IN HIS MEETINGS 
WITH EU AMBASSADOR'S HE HAS REPEATED HIS INSISTENCE THAT 
EUROPE MUST BE FOUNDED ON "COMMON VALUES, TAKING INTO 
ACCOUNT THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS OF THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE" WHO 
LIVE ON THE CONTINENT.  LIKEWISE, THE POPE'S MEETING WITH 
PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION, VALERIE GISCARD 
D'ESTAING, FOCUSED ON THE CONCERNS OF EUROPE'S CHRISTIAN 
MAJORITY "TO SEE THEIR IDENTITY AND THEIR SPECIFIC 
CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIFE OF EUROPEAN SOCIETY RESPECTED" AND 
TO HAVE THE STATUS THEY ENJOY IN CERTAIN NATIONAL 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8542 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  05753  02 OF 03  271520Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      DS-00    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01 
      VCE-00   NSAE-00  PER-00   TEST-00  EPAE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00 
      DRL-02   SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------0F8011  271658Z /38 
R 271353Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 005753 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EUR/SE; EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PINS, EU, PGOV, VT 
SUBJECT: THE HOLY SEE AND THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION: 
 
COUNTERING SECULARISM, NOT TURKEY'S EUROPEAN AMBITIONS 
 
CONSTITUTIONS REFLECTED IN THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION.  MOST 
RECENTLY, IN THE FIRST EVER PAPAL ADDRESS TO BOTH HOUSES OF 
THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT NOVEMBER 14, JOHN PAUL II CALLED FOR 
EUROPE TO "OPEN ONCE AGAIN YOUR DOORS TO CHRIST."  WHILE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  05753  02 OF 03  271520Z 
STRESSING THE CONTINENT'S RELIGIOUS PATRIMONY (READ 
CHRISTIANITY), WHICH HAS "GIVEN EUROPE ITS GREATNESS DOWN 
THE CENTURIES," THE PONTIFF ALSO SUPPORTED PROVIDING ROOM 
FOR THE "RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF THE CULTURES AND 
TRADITIONS WHICH CHARACTERIZE INDIVIDUAL NATIONS (I.E. OTHER 
RELIGIONS)." 
 
----------------------------------------- 
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE AS SEEN FROM THE CURIA 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) VATICAN DIRECTOR FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MSGR. ETTORE 
BALESTRERO EXPANDED ON THE HOLY SEE'S VIEWS IN A NOVEMBER 18 
MEETING WITH POLOFF.  BALESTRERO ESTIMATED THAT ON A 
CONTINENT OF ROUGHLY 700 MILLION PEOPLE, ABOUT 500 MILLION 
WERE CHRISTIAN. (NOTE: THE VATICAN'S STATISTICAL YEARBOOK OF 
THE CHURCH COUNTS 702 MILLION POPULATION IN EUROPE WHICH 
INCLUDES ALL OF THE OSCE COUNTRIES EXCEPT THE U.S., CANADA 
AND TURKEY. END NOTE.)  FURTHERMORE, BALESTRERO RECALLED, 
CHRISTIANITY, UNLIKE OTHER FAITHS, WAS THE COMMON ELEMENT 
THAT BOUND THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN CIVILIZATIONS OF GREECE AND 
ROME TO MODERN EUROPE.  IT WAS CHRISTIAN MONKS WHO HAD 
PRESERVED EUROPE'S KNOWLEDGE, AND JUDEO-CHRISTIAN ETHICS 
THAT INFORM MODERN NOTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE.  THE 
HOLY SEE WAS SIMPLY SEEKING TO ENSURE THAT EUROPE'S 
CONSTITUTION RECOGNIZES THIS "REALITY" -- BUT WITHOUT ANY 
NORMATIVE OR OPERATIONAL CONSEQUENCES.  BALESTRERO SAID THE 
HOLY SEE STILL SUPPORTS LANGUAGE IN A EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION 
GUARANTEEING FREEDOM OF RELIGION, WITH IMPLEMENTATION 
DEVOLVED TO THE NATION-STATES ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF 
SUBSIDIARITY.  THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THIS, HE ADMITTED, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  05753  02 OF 03  271520Z 
WOULD BE TO ENSHRINE THE PRIVILEGES AND RIGHTS OF THE 
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN COUNTRIES WHERE CONCORDATS PROVIDE FOR 
THEM, AND ALSO FOR THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN COUNTRIES WHERE IT 
PREDOMINATES. 
 
7.  (SBU)  BALESTRERO ALSO NOTED A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE 
HOLY SEE'S ROLE IN THIS DEBATE:  THE IDEA FOR LANGUAGE IN 
THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION ACKNOWLEDGING CHRISTIANITY WAS 
DEVELOPED BY A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN CHURCHES 
(CEC - A PROTESTANT GROUP).  ONLY LATER DID THE HOLY SEE 
(AND GREEK ORTHODOX) JOIN THEIR VOICES TO IT.  THE HOLY SEE, 
BALESTRERO CONTINUED, VIEWS THIS LANGUAGE AS ENHANCING THE 
IMPORTANCE OF ALL RELIGIONS IN EUROPE'S DAILY LIFE. 
 
------------------------------------- 
A CHRISTIAN HERITAGE BUT ROOM FOR ALL 
------------------------------------- 
 
8.   (SBU) CHALLENGED ON THE UNDENIABLE CONTRIBUTION TO 
EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION FROM A JEWISH PRESENCE THAT PREDATES 
THE CHRISTIAN ONE, AND THE HALF-MILLENNIUM LONG ISLAMIC 
CONTROL OF IBERIA AND THE BALKANS, BALESTRERO SAID THE HOLY 
SEE DOES NOT DENY THESE INFLUENCES, THOUGH THEY REGARD THE 
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE AS HISTORICALLY PREDOMINANT.  MOREOVER, 
THE HOLY SEE IS A CHRISTIAN ENTITY AND IS PUSHING FOR ITS 
CHRISTIAN INTERESTS; IT HAS NO OBJECTION TO ANYONE ELSE 
SEEKING TO INTERJECT LANGUAGE ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OTHER 
SOURCES.  HE SAID THE HOLY SEE HAD RECENTLY SHARED A TEXT OF 
PROPOSED LANGUAGE WITH JEWISH LEADERS, WHO SUPPORTED IT. 
MORE RECENTLY, DURING A VATICAN RADIO DISCUSSION ON THE 
EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION, EUROPEAN PEOPLES PARTY PRESIDENT, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  05753  02 OF 03  271520Z 
WILFRED MARTENS, NOTED THAT THE POPE IS PUSHING FOR LANGUAGE 
SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE POLISH CONSTITUTION TO THE EFFECT 
THAT JUDEO-CHRISTIAN NOTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE CAN 
BE ARRIVED AT FROM BELIEF IN GOD OR OTHER SOURCES. 
 
9.  (U)  THE POPE HIMSELF, WHILE AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY RECOGNITION OF THE CONTINENT'S CHRISTIAN 
HERITAGE, CAUTIONED IN A SEPTEMBER 13 ADDRESS THAT THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMON EUROPEAN IDENTITY SHOULD NOT BE USED 
AS AN EXCUSE FOR HOSTILITY TOWARDS MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. HE 
ARGUED AGAINST ANY TENDENCY TOWARD "ISOLATION FROM THE REST 
OF THE WORLD." 
 
-------------------- 
ALSO ROOM FOR TURKEY 
-------------------- 
 
10.  (SBU) WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE PLACE OF TURKEY IN A 
NEW EUROPE AND THE FALLOUT FROM GISCARD D'ESTAING'S MEETING 
WITH THE POPE (RFTEL B), BALESTRERO SAID GISCARD 
D'ESTAING'S VIES WERE NOT THOSE OF THE HOLY SEE.  THE HOLY 
SEE HS NO OBJECTION TO TURKISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU, BU 
HAS NO ROLE IN DECIDING THAT MEMBERSHIP.  ACCORING TO 
BALESTRERO, THE HOLY SEE IS PLEASED WITH HE RESULTS OF THE 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ8544 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  05753  03 OF 03  271520Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AMAD-00  ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00 
      DS-00    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   LAB-01 
      VCE-00   NSAE-00  TEST-00  EPAE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02 
      SAS-00     /003W 
                  ------------------0F8019  271658Z /38 
R 271353Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 005753 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EUR/SE; EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PINS, EU, PGOV, VT 
SUBJECT: THE HOLY SEE AND THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION: 
 
COUNTERING SECULARISM, NOT TURKEY'S EUROPEAN AMBITIONS 
 
RECENT TURKISH ELECTIONS, AND VIEWS IN TURKEY A SECULAR 
STATE THAT COULD MAKE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO A LARGER EU, 
NOT AS AN ISLAMIC THREAT TO EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION. 
MOREOVER, THE HOLY SEE SEES TURKEY AS A MODERATE, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  05753  03 OF 03  271520Z 
MODERNIZING, SECULAR STATE THAT CAN HELP BRING MODERATION TO 
THE ISLAMIC WORLD -- A CURRENT PREOCCUPATION OF THE HOLY 
SEE.  IN FACT, CARDINAL ACHILLE SILVESTRINI, PREFECT OF THE 
CONGREGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH EASTERN CHURCHES, IN AN 
INTERVIEW FOLLOWING THE TURKISH ELECTION RESULTS EMPHASIZED 
THE IMPORTANCE OF DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY AND CAUTIONED AGAINST 
VIEWING ISLAM "PURELY IN ITS AGGRESSIVE AND FUNDAMENTALIST 
COMPONENT" RATHER THAN "A RELIGION CAPABLE OF TOLERANCE." 
 
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COMMENT 
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11.  (SBU) GISCARD D'ESTAING'S DECISION TO LAUNCH HIS 
BROADSIDE AGAINST TURKISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU SHORTLY AFTER 
HIS MEETING WITH THE POPE HAS UNNECESSARILY LED MANY TO VIEW 
THE HOLY SEE AS INVOLVED IN WHAT IS A PURELY EUROPEAN 
DOGFIGHT.  AT NO TIME IN ANY OF OUR DISCUSSIONS OF THE HOLY 
SEE'S LONGSTANDING CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHAPE OF THE FUTURE EU 
CONSTITUTION HAS TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP EVER ARISEN.    THE 
HOLY SEE'S INTERESTS -- BOTH IN IMBEDDING REFERENCES TO KEY 
VALUES AND ENSURING JURIDICAL PROTECTIONS -- PREDATE CURRENT 
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TURKEY'S PLACE IN EUROPE.  TO BE SURE, 
THERE ARE MANY CATHOLIC INTELLECTUALS, SUCH AS ITALIAN 
MINISTER FOR EU AFFAIRS, ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE, WHO QUESTION 
WHETHER A MUSLIM TURKEY SHARES EUROPE'S  VALUE SYSTEM, WHICH 
THEY REGARD AS DERIVED FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS.  BUT 
EVEN BUTTIGLIONE IN A RECENT SPEECH HERE LEFT OPEN THE DOOR 
THAT TURKEY COULD OVERCOME THESE DOUBTS BY BETTER PROTECTING 
HUMAN RIGHTS AND STRENGTHENING ITS DEMOCRACY.  NEVERTHELESS, 
THE HOLY SEE REGARDS ITS CHALLENGE NOT AS ONE OF KEEPING THE 
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PAGE 03        VATICA  05753  03 OF 03  271520Z 
MUSLIM INFLUENCE OUT OF EUROPE, BUT OF REINVIGORATING ITS 
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES.  AS THE POPE TOLD THE ITALIAN 
PARLIAMENT, HE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT "THE NEW FOUNDATIONS OF 
THE EUROPEAN 'COMMON HOUSE' WILL NOT LACK THE 'CEMENT' OF 
THAT EXTRAORDINARY RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL AND CIVIL PATRIMONY 
WHICH HAS GIVEN EUROPE ITS GREATNESS DOWN THE CENTURIES." 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
F:\POLITICAL SECTION\CABLES\021120 EUROPE CHRISTIANITY.DOC 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA05753 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED