ECUMENISTS CALL FOR UNITY

Ecumenists call for religious and political unity in EU

The Roman Catholic 'Council of European Bishops' Conferences' and the non Roman Catholic 'Conference of European Churches' have sent out a joint letter from Wittenberg to all the Christians of Europe to join in a "Pilgrimage of Light".
The letter was released at the end of the ecumenical encounter in Wittenberg, 15 18 February. "We look for the light of Christ which shines in the darkness", says the letter. "This light invites us to recognise our darkness of mistrust, suspicion and enmity and to be reconciled in the sacred presence of Christ's cross."
"One hundred and fifty delegates from 44 countries and almost all Christian churches in Europe gathered in Luther's city to reflect on issues such as the challenge of secularisation, the churches' vision for Europe and their contribution to the European integration;" (our emphasis) according to the official release.
Delegates had previously been told by German President Horst Koehler that churches risked squandering opportunities by letting differences and disputes drown out the message of their faith. But the engine of ecumenism seems to have stuttered," said Koehler, a Protestant.
The encounter in Wittenberg was a stage in the process leading to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), which will be held in September in Sibiu, Romania, on the theme, The light of Christ shines upon all Hope for renewal and unity in Europe
EU CONSTITUTION
German. Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised to revive the "core" of the European Constitution, including the creation of an EU foreign Minister and the scrapping of national vetoes on justice and home affairs, despite its rejection by France and Holland in 2005, according to the Fellowship of European Broadcasters.
Britain. According to The Daily Mail, Mr Blair seems to be pushing for a five year, full time EU President, also for an EU Defence Minister and Foreign Minister, and that without consulting his cabinet. First steps will be taken at a summit on March 25 with a Declaration on the Future of Europe.
Segolene Royal, the Socialist Candidate for the French Presidency, has said she is in favour of holding a new referendum on a revised EU Constitution in 2009.

British Church Newspaper 2 March 2007

Source: http://www.ianpaisley.org/new_details.asp?ID=488