No says Proinsias De Rossa, Labour Party MEP for Dublin and Yes says Dana Rosemary Scallon, MEP Connacht/Ulster.
Pronsias De Rossa: Robert Schuman, one of the key architects of the European ideal and a deeply committed Catholic, wrote that "Christianity is not, and should not be, linked to any political regime or associated with any particular form of government, even a democratic one. On this point, as elsewhere, it is essential to distinguish the domains of God and Caesar."
The Convention on the Future of Europe is faced with proposals on a preamble for the constitutional treaty which call for a specific invocation of God and for references to Judaeo-Christian heritage. As a democrat, I do not accept that such proposals are appropriate. Today, the EU is made up of different nations and nationalities, with different histories, cultures, religions and beliefs. Future enlargement may involve states such as Bulgaria, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which will significantly increase Muslim populations in the Union. The political and social values of European countries have evolved from many sources, including lay or humanist traditions.
It is, of course, entirely proper to make reference to the fundamental values upon which the European Union is founded. But there can be no backdoor inclusion of values which are repugnant to equality, or freedom of conscience. Over the decades the Union has demonstrated a new way forward through acceptance of the plurality of civilisations and of mutual respect and tolerance. In my opinion, the wording of the preamble of the Charter of Fundamental Rights gets it about right in stating that "conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity". On the question of freedom of religion, the charter is explicit on "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion." I argue that this charter, which guarantees the rights of children, trade union rights etc, should be an integral, legally binding part of the European Constitution. Interestingly, those who most vociferously argue for a reference to God oppose the inclusion of this Charter of Rights.
Draft article 37 of the constitution contains a specific reference to the status of churches and non-confessional organisations. I have expressed concerns about the ambiguous wording of this article, which appears to give an extraordinary super-status to these bodies.
It is not clear to me they need a separate treaty article, as they are already covered in the general provisions for dialogue with civil society.
The basic principles of democracy foresee a secular political system and the separation and independence between that system and churches or philosophical communities. These principles, to my mind, are essential to citizens' freedoms. Equally important are the principles of equality and non-discrimination between citizens and, consequently, between the different religions and churches.
In short, as one commentator has put it, if we put God into the constitutional treaty, the devil will be in the detail.
Dana Rosemary Scallon: I believe that reference to God in the preamble of the proposed EU constitutional treaty presents no threat to Europe. It safeguards human dignity and human rights, as values held above political, legal and juridical decisions.
As Europe searches for a common identity, it can build on its common cultural, historical and religious heritage. Europe's history can only be understood by acknowledging the influence of the religious component which has formed the identity of Europe and inspired the formation of the European Union itself.
The reference to God in the preamble of our Irish Constitution has not been a threat to our nation or to our people. In fact it has been a vital building force of our nation.
It states: "We the people of Éire, Humbly acknowledging all our obligations to our Divine Lord, Jesus Christ, Who sustained our fathers through centuries of trial, Gratefully remembering their heroic and unremitting struggle to regain the rightful independence of our Nation, And seeking to promote the common good. . . so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations, Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."
Article 6.1 of our Constitution further affirms: "All powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people."
At present, two predominant concepts co-exist in Europe. One finds the meaning of life in God; the other does not require God. The European project will fail to be neutral if it only expresses the secular concept and excludes the religious beliefs of the majority of Europeans.
Any exclusion of the religious concept would not be considered neutrality, but a denial of that section of European Society for the sake of ideological reasons.
As Europe seeks to establish an area of justice, equality and peace, I believe we need the values that religion has generated throughout the years. Values that liberal democracy depends on but cannot produce by itself: the inviolable dignity of the human person, freedom of conscience and religion, the right to work, the dignity of the worker, the contribution of the voluntary sector and of the family.
Indeed, it is our duty to enshrine these values for all people, in particular the most vulnerable, the poor and socially excluded, especially in light of a surprising and worrying opinion expressed by the European Commission that "there is no common ethics, only private ethics."
The preamble will encapsulate the character and vision of a united Europe. Let us learn from the past. Europe has already experienced the destructive horror of nations that attempt to deny the dignity and inviolability of the human person. Europe has also seen the dissolution of a totalitarian regime that attempted to enforce a political vision devoid of God, a secular atheistic state which suppressed religious freedom.
A reference to God is not a threat to Europe; however, excluding God is. John Paul II has stated: "The rights of God and man are either affirmed together, or they will fall together".
I support this statement and I also agree with convention president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who has called for the European Convention to reflect on Europe's future with "enthusiasm", a word of Greek origin meaning inspired by God.