The
National Secular Society (United Kingdom) and
The
Fédération Nationale de la Libre Pensée
(France)
demand…..
Secularism
in Europe!
A
Europe free from religious domination!
and
call for….
An international demonstration in Brussels in
favour of secularism
In
2003, the Federation Française de la Libre Pensée
and the National Secular Society of the UK suggested that all
European secular organisations should jointly organise a mass
demonstration in Paris on 6th December 2003, the focus of which
would be: a defence of secularism in Europe and a rejection of
Article 51 of the proposed European Constitution.
By
6th December 2003, 32 organisations from 14 countries had answered
the call. With IHEU presiding, hundreds of secularists, free-thinkers,
humanists and rationalists came together in the defence of secularism
in Europe and to promote secularism in new areas.
Now
we must move to respond to what has happened since then.
On
18th June, the Intergovernmental Conference adopted the proposed
Constitution, which incorporates Article 51 (now Article 52),
the intention of which is to guarantee excessive religious privileges
and to confirm the power of the churches in EU institutions,
in spite of the Union’s commitment to freedom of conscience.
It is expected that it will take a maximum of two years to ratify
the proposed Constitution in all the member countries.
In
all countries of the Union, therefore, those who have the interests
of secularism at heart are called upon to oppose this institutionalisation
of church power, the object of which is to legitimise, perpetuate
and even increase the anti-democratic privileges of churches
and faith groups throughout the EU.
If
such a provision were to be adopted, no people, no nation, no
State in Europe could ever successfully challenge state religions,
church-state agreements, blasphemy laws and the church taxes
that already exist in a great many member countries or are proposed
in future.
Furthermore,
Article 52 obliges privileged consultation with religious and
other philosophical groups throughout the Union “in an
open and transparent dialogue”. This is objectionable
because it is undemocratic and will also lead to an entrenchment
of religious power and influence.
The
question that now confronts us is not the desirability of a European
constitution per se, but whether the constitution currently proposed
encourages religious power-seeking and is therefore anti-secular.
The answer is clear: the constitution grants undue religious
influence and is therefore a threat to the secular structure
of society. Article 52 in particular constitutes a grave danger
for freedom of conscience. The only way to avoid these dangers
is to reject this constitution, which is no longer at the prototype
stage but will become legally enforceable if it is not rejected.
That
is why the NSS and Libre Pensée Française call
for a greater and coordinated resistance, building upon the success
of the rally that took place on 6th December 2003.
The
two organisations call upon all rationalist, sceptical, free-thinking,
humanist and secular organisations and upon citizens of the various
countries of Europe
To
take part in an international secular demonstration in Brussels
on Sunday April 3rd, 2005 starting at 12.00, to protest:
-
Against the 18th June 2004 version of the European Constitution
and particularly the anti-democratic Article 52!
-
Against a clerical and religious Europe excessively influenced
by the Vatican!
-
Against the preservation of religious privilege!
-
Against the legitimisation of religious influence in European
institutions!
And
to call for:
-
Complete freedom of conscience!
-
Secularism in Europe!
-
The separation of religion and state!
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