The European Union and the Catholic Church

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The European Union and the Catholic Church have been involved with each other since the European Economic Community was founded. Many of the founders of the European Union were inspired by Catholic ideals.^[1]

[edit] Recent Events

Some of the more recent events in the relationship have been:

• The failure to include a reference to Europe's Christian heritage in the European Constitution^[2]
• The European Parliament refused to ratify Rocco Buttiglione as a European Commissioner because he backed the Catholic Church's view that homosexuality was a sin^[3]
• The European Union endorsed the Sandbaek Report, increasing funding for abortion^[4]
• The funding of stem cell research by the European Union^[5]
• The European Parliament passed a motion^[6] calling for the compulsory recognition of same-sex unions across the whole of the European Union^[7]

[edit] References

1. ^ Vatican resists drive to canonise EU founder, by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, 19/08/2004
2. ^ Pope presses EU on constitution
3. ^ EU row candidate stands down
4. ^ EU funds must not be used for abortions in developing countries, Commission of the Bishop's Conferences of the European Commission, Press Release, 13 February 2003
5. ^ Roman Catholic Church Outraged at EU Stem Cell Funding Decision
6. ^ A framework strategy for non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all
7. ^ European Parliament calls for legal recognition of same-sex unions in all EU states, 27 June 2006, euro-fam