Born-Again Europe?

[Kellanved]

This week's showdown in the European Parliament over a conservative candidate for the European Commission showed that Europe, too, has the potential for the kind of culture wars that pit American conservatives against liberals.

In America, religion dominates campaigns to such a degree that both US presidential candidates carry Bibles with them and regularly invoke the word "God." In Europe, however, secularism dominates -- or at least it has. This week, even as the European Union constitution was signed in Rome on Friday, the entire continent is embroiled in a debate or, as some are calling it a "cultural war." At issues is the division of church and state and how much religion and personal beliefs can and should play in EU decision-making. It's a conflict that shows Christian cracks in a seemingly secular EU surface.

The debate is specifically focused on whether controversial Italian Rocco Buttiglione, who is a devout Catholic and believes homosexuality is a sin and single moms are bad mothers, is qualified to serve as European commissioner for justice. His candidacy was the key reason why incoming EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso withdrew his 25-commissioner line-up from the parliamentary approval process Wednesday. Too many EU parliamentarians were uncomfortable with Buttiglione's views.
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Is Europe becoming more Christian?

But what, exactly, is coming back? In Europe's largest countries, France and Germany, even conservative parties that identify themselves as Christian have never sought to overturn laws its citizens take for granted -- like the right to abortion or gay rights. In fact, both Paris and Berlin have openly gay mayors. Spain, an officially Catholic country, is showing increasing signs of liberalism. It recently voted to slash state church funding and is moving to ban crucifixes from public buildings. In Holland, drugs are tolerated and euthanasia is legal. England, albeit headed by Tony Blair, a devout Christian, is decidedly agnostic. Even staunchly Catholic Ireland has been edging towards liberalism. The country still outlaws abortion, but in 1990 it elected Europe's first female president and in 1995 it legalized divorce. Italy, a bit of a maverick with Silvio Berlusconi at the helm, is the exception, growing increasingly chummy with the Pope.

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http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,325722,00.html