Madam, - July 16th marks the 50th anniversary of the death of that great Catholic apologist Hilaire Belloc.
Belloc had a deep love of European culture and in his two famous books Path to Rome and Europe and the Faith, he pointed out the intrinsic role of Christianity in the formation of European civilisation with its rich and wonderful treasures of art, architecture, literature, poetry and music. Indeed, one cannot imagine Europe without its Christian heritage.
The new European Constitution seeks to ignore the role of Christianity in the history and development of Europe. This is no oversight, but deliberate policy. So much about the European Constitution, and indeed, the EU itself, strikes one as secular and anti-Christian.
The EU's regulation 168 relates to "Aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health in developing countries". This is the usual jargon for abortion.
What influence does the Irish Government endeavour to exert on the values of the EU? Does it ever represent a Christian perspective or sense of values? Is its function merely to endorse and rubber-stamp everything the EU demands? Are we being fully informed in this country of the implications for our ideological and independence and sovereignty if this European Constitution comes into force?
The media here appear to have no questions whatever to ask and continue to sing in chorus. What with the International Criminal Court and the new European Constitution, I find the whole prospect more depressing and ominous.
A little more questioning and scepticism would surely be a healthy thing. - Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY REDMOND, North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.