Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput waved a red flag before an -international audience Thursday in Spain, accusing Europe of growing religious intolerance and abusing Christianity.<\/p>\n
"Europe has given the whole world the seeds of democracy," he told government ministers from 55 nations, according to a text of his speech. "Today’s growing anti-religious and often anti-Christian spirit undermines that witness."<\/p>\n
Chaput was among nine members of a State Department delegation led by New York Gov. George Pataki. The two-day conference, "Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance," in Cordoba, Spain, was sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.<\/p>\n
In his address, Chaput traced Europe’s Christian roots and decried abandonment of that heritage by the continent’s prevailing culture.<\/p>\n
Secularism has been a growing influence in Europe. The European Union’s constitution makes no mention of the continent’s Christian heritage. There also is momentum to extend euthanasia laws and marriage rights to gay couples.<\/p>\n
Chaput cited legal restrictions of religious expression and open contempt of religious symbols.<\/p>\n
"Programs like How To Cook a Crucifix (a show aired on Spanish TV last December), and sacramental confessions recorded without the confessor’s knowledge are deeply contemptuous of Catholic believers," Chaput said.<\/p>\n
"This is unworthy of Europe’s moral dignity and religious heritage. Furthermore, it stands in stark contrast to OSCE commitments to promote religious freedom."<\/p>\n