Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 1
Influencing Europe
David Fieldsend
Manager
CARE for Europe
Brussels Office
www.careforeurope.eu
19/04/23Influencing Europe
2
Twofold Mission
Proclaiming Christian Truth Ensuring Christian voice is heard in
public square promoting biblical ethical standards
Demonstrating Christ’s Compassion Developed network of Caring Services
aiding those suffering from society’s departure from Christian ethics
Influencing Europe
Campaigning for Christian Ethical Standards Bioethics and Medical Ethics – The
Primacy of the Right to Life Marriage and Family Life – Favouring
Stable Nurturing Child Protection – Especially from
Commercial Exploitation & Visual Media Content
Human Trafficking – Better Support for Victims & More Effective Action against Perpetrators
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 4
CARE’s Role in Brussels
Monitoring upcoming European policy and law proposals
Alerting CARE HQ and CARE supporters to these proposals and formulating a Christian response in liaison with CARE HQ
Lobbying individual EC officials and MEPs, drafting briefing papers, addressing ‘Public Hearings’, drafting and lobbying for amendments to change these proposals
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 5
Complex Institutional Structure with Checks & Balances
Need to understand the structure to hit the right targets
Although not a state government can analyse on traditional ‘separation of powers’ basis
Where is the Power?
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 6
European Council- sets the agenda European Commission-drafts text Council of Ministers & European
Parliament – Adopt and/or Amend the text, (but can reject too)
EU Legislative Process
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 7
Religious Liberty
Concern for religious freedom from the start. Nations previously hostile to the Christian faith are being transformed into lands of Gospel opportunity through process of applying for and becoming EU Members.
Religious freedom rights now enshrined in Charter of Fundamental Rights, incorporated in the Treaties since Lisbon.
However, the Charter has no hierarchy of rights and there are already calls in the European Parliament for other rights to override religious liberty.
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 8
Recent Developments
Mindset of elite and many NGOs has now parted company from Judaeo-Christian tradition
New ethical agenda not being promoted on basis of reason or evidence, but ideology
Favourite method of promoting ethical change is through asserting ‘rights’ not previously recognised & forcing those not in agreement onto defensive
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 9
Changing Basis of Human Rights Earlier documents like UDHR
recognised married family unit and parental rights
Now everything focuses on autonomous individual, even assumed for ‘children’
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 10
Emerging Trends
Anti-Discrimination – from Tolerance to Affirmation- from given identity to lifestyle choices
Anti-Hate Speech/Incitement – the loss of freedom of speech
Loss of conscience rights through employment/service discrimination laws
Reproductive Rights The ‘Right to Die’
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 11
What This Means
Christians must wake up to what is going on
Christian politicians (we need more) must be prepared to be unpopular and insulted for Christ’s sake
The Church must get behind those speaking up for Christian values in public life. Prayer & pastoral support is first priority
Lessons from Army Life
The Pincer Movement – Mass Movement & Select Lobbying / Faith & Works
Co-Belligerency ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend’
Using the secret weapon – ‘Don’t go beyond what can effectively be prayed for’ (Exodus 17:10-13)
Co-ordination is Key
The European and the national political level have to be linked together
Only a two-way flow of information and strategy co-ordination can win
Therefore membership of networks, whether of political parties or NGOs with shared values is essential
19/04/23 Influencing Europe 14
Influencing EuropeDavid Fieldsend
Manager
CARE for Europe
Brussels Office
www.careforeurope.eu
Historical Context
