EUROPE/IRELAND - “A community that is founded on purely economic self interest will not last,” Bishops say, in regards to the referendum to be held on the Treaty of Lisbon

Dublin (Agenzia Fides) – In preparation for the referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon set to take place on June 12, the Irish Bishops have published a Pastoral Letter entitled, “Fostering a community of values.” Ireland is the only country in the European Union that has called for a referendum on the Treaty.
In their Letter, the Bishops begin by making an appeal asking that the right of each person to freely cast his vote be respected, in light of the pressure from powerful interest groups in Ireland and in other parts of the EU. They also ask that all citizens dedicate time and effort in studying and reflecting on the contents of the Treaty so that they may responsibly vote.
They remind the faithful the Treaty of Lisbon should be built on the basis of authentic values. In that sense, the referendum offers an opportunity to recall the values that inspired the founders of the European Economic Community. “A community that is founded on purely economic self interest will not last...” Europe is a community and it needs “an ethic of global solidarity,” the letter said. The Bishops realize that there are humanistic values of a Christian nature at the heart of the Treaty of Lisbon, however unfortunately there is no explicit recognition of the Christian patrimony of Europe.
The Bishops also see the referendum as an opportunity to reflect on the type of Europe we want to offer to future generations. The challenge, therefore, is “to discern how to contribute to the demands of a new and enlarged European community based on shared values of which future generations will be proud.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 06/06/2008)